Digital Connectivity Grants

Digital Connectivity Grants

Connectivity devices and digital literacy for broadband support

Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) was awarded $4,979,044.17 through a partnership with the Georgia Technology Authority for a State of Georgia Capital Project Fund grant using American Rescue Plan Act funding for device replacement due to increase of use during the pandemic and digital literacy through training and resources provided by public libraries as community anchors. GPLS received funding for administrative costs that include a temporary position for grants coordinator, advertisements to promote device lending programs and digital literacy, promotional materials that can be distributed to public libraries, and on-demand training that can be used by library staff for a train-the-trainer program. All 60 public library systems will have the opportunity to receive new devices through direct purchase by GPLS and a competitive grant. Chromebooks will be purchased by GPLS directly with the vendor and library systems will have the opportunity to replace needed devices. The competitive grant process will be cost-reimbursable subawards for devices and will require procurement contracts for the libraries. Funding will be awarded based on Qualified Census Tracts for low-income housing, county poverty rates, and households with no access to the internet to fairly distribute funding for public libraries across the state. Funding must be spent by October 30, 2026.