Provo has been recognized as a 2024 Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. This marks the fifth year in a row that the city has received this honor.
The Digital Inclusion Trailblazers Program highlights local governments that effectively promote digital education and internet access for all. In 2024, 60 Trailblazers were recognized across the country, making it the largest group in the program’s history since it started in 2016.
Provo stands out as the only local government in Utah to be named a Trailblazer. Among the 34 honorees classified as “Visionary Trailblazers,” Provo has been praised for its strong commitment to digital inclusion.
Efforts in digital inclusion focus on helping underserved communities, including individuals from lower-income backgrounds, Hispanic and Latino populations, and older adults. In Utah County, data shows that 58% of Latino workers lack digital skills, which affects job opportunities. Additionally, 52.7% of adults over 65 do not have home internet access.
Provo’s digital inclusion program has a three-part strategy: teaching digital skills, providing computers and devices, and ensuring internet access. Local resources like the Provo City Library play a crucial role by offering free internet and digital literacy classes. The library also allows residents to borrow Chromebooks and hot spots for home use.
Josh Ihrig, Provo’s information systems division director, emphasized the city’s mission: “We want every resident to easily and safely access technology in ways that work for them.” He believes that a digitally equitable Provo will connect communities rather than divide them.
According to the 2024 Digital Inclusion Programming Update, Provo provided over 400 computers and held more than 163 digital skills training classes. These initiatives receive funding from the Provo city government and community partners, including United Way of Utah County, which supports low-income adults through a computer adoption program and classes.
Bill Hulterstrom, president and CEO of United Way of Utah County, commended Provo’s efforts, stating, “We want to ensure that all our community’s technology benefits everyone.” He believes Provo deserves its recognition for this commendable work.
To explore available resources, check out the Provo Digital Inclusion website.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
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