Rural LISC Digital Connector Program: Arkansas Call for Applicants

February 1, 2023

Dear Colleagues:

Since the pandemic, the need for affordable and reliable broadband internet access tops the priority list for a huge number of rural communities. Through a generous grant from the Arkansas Community Foundation, Rural LISC will support the scoping, scaling and sustaining of an Arkansas statewide digital advocate community of practice to further ongoing regional efforts to expand broadband internet access and use across the region, and to extend the reach of frontline community support organizations through technology.

In our growing network of 150+ cross-trained Digital Connectors at 45 sites in 21 states across Appalachia, in the Deep South, in the upper Midwest, and on the Navajo Nation, individuals are gaining technology skills to more fully participate in their communities, the economy and society. We seek to continue to build a community of rural organizations implementing digital inclusion strategies and are pleased to announce the expansion of the Digital Connector program to Arkansas in Spring 2023. 

Up to seven rural community-based partners will be invited to participate in the next cohort with an expected launch date of March 1, 2023. The proposed grant period will be 12 months, concluding in March 2024.

Please see the attached program overview slides, Digital Connectors: An Approach from Rural LISC for more information.

Digital Connector Program Focus:

Cross-trained direct service providers as Digital Connectors for user support

Within their local community service model, Digital Connectors will be trained to help clients become familiar with, and take advantage of, discounts with internet service providers, signing up for internet service, taking advantage of subsidies and other benefits, getting devices connected to the internet, basic troubleshooting of equipment problems, and understanding how to use digital platforms and applications such as telehealth and online banking.

Building job-ready and life-ready digital skills

Partners will have access to resources and guidance to introduce Northstar Digital Literacy, helping clients learn skills for jobs, lives and livelihoods. (Northstar is provided to grantees at a discount by Rural LISC for the grant term and is included as an in-kind benefit in the grant award.)

Direct technology access support

Grants may be used by partners to purchase in-full or subsidize the cost of technology to support digital skill-building training and to support client access to affordable, reliable internet service.

Customized Local Resource Guide

Rural LISC will work with each partner to develop a custom local resource guide that identifies connectivity and other digital inclusion supports in order to aid clients, and in their role as rural community anchors.

Enhance Organization Service Delivery

Rural LISC will support the cohort with high-value expert content and training ranging from professional development resources to identify and leverage new funding to promote broadband and digital equity, increase collaborative partnerships, and build local capacity for community development.

Grant Award:

$19,600 over 12 months to support existing staff members to be trained as Digital Connector(s) and to provide a flexible budget to support individual clients with digital solutions and to meet customized technology upgrades, as determined by the organization and reviewed by LISC.

Grantees Requirements:

- Identify current staff member(s) to receive Digital Connector training

- Provide digital supports to at least 50 clients over 12 months, including support to 20 clients with digital skill building and at least 5 clients /households with support to connect to low-cost internet from home

- Manage budget to provide customized digital supports to clients and for facility improvements

- Track and report the number of clients receiving assistance, how funds were spent, and what type of assistance was provided

Additional Expectations:

Cross-trained staff should be community-facing, and ideally already working in a client-support role. Training from LISC for staff serving in the role will focus on how to support clients to take advantage of internet access, devices and skills. Once trained, Digital Connectors will serve as both an external and internal resource to bridge barriers to digital access.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete the enclosed application via Form Assembly at this link by February 22, 2023. If unable to complete the application online, please complete in Microsoft Word in no more than 3 pages and email to Christa Vinson at cvinson@lisc.org. Questions about this opportunity or the application can be directed to the same address.

Please list information for the best point of contact for your digital navigator program.

Community-Based Organization Information

Legal Organization Name (as it appears on your 990 Tax Form)

Organization Address

Organization Address cont'd

Organization City/Town

7. Organization ZIP Code

Organization State

Website (if none, put N/A)

Will this grant be made directly to your organization or to a fiscal agent? If yes, please provide the legal name of the fiscal agent, a contact name and an email address.

Community-Based Organization Information

Primary Point of Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Phone Number (numbers only - no dashes)

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Application Questions

1. What are the current needs in your community around digital access? If helpful, you can use our framework document to organize your response.

2. Do you have a staff member(s) who could be trained as a Digital Connector?

YesNo

If yes, please provide the role they currently have in your organization.

If no, do you have a partner organization or community member who might be able to act in this capacity, supported by the LISC grant budget, over the course of 12 months?

3. Please describe this person's current work and how you envision this new digital role fitting into their portfolio.

4. Can your organization and/or your Digital Connector provide support to at least 50 individuals or families over a 12 month period?

YesNo

5. Please indicate, if you have a way to track the information listed below, your response, or how you would implement a tracking system as a component of this grant.

a. Number of individuals or families receiving services, including digital supports

b. Types of services provided (i.e., gaining access to the internet; learning new technology skills; using internet services (e.g. telehealth, education, community building); reliable broadband access

c. How you'll help clients with technology access and skills once the grant period ends

6. Are there others in your community addressing digital access? If yes, please provide a short description of their work, target audience, and how the Digital Connector will complement other ongoing initiatives.

7. Is your organization involved in regional broadband planning locally or in coordination with ARConnect - The Arkansas State Broadband Office?

8.What is your proposed plan (if known) for improving technology to aid your organization’s service delivery with this grant’s proposed budget?

9. Do you have partners or vendors who can help you/patrons purchase equipment quickly and at a discounted rate?

Thank you for taking the time to submit your application. If you have questions or need clarification, please email Christa Vinson at cvinson@lisc.org.