The Impact of the New York Digital Inclusion Fund Innovation Grants

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance is thrilled to share the incredible achievements detailed in the New York Digital Inclusion Fund (NYDIF) Innovation Grant Final Report. Over the course of two years, ten Innovation grantees were funded, leading to the creation and expansion of vital digital inclusion programs that address barriers to connectivity, devices, and digital skills. This initiative, which ran from January 1, 2022, to September 30, 2024, has had a profound and lasting impact. The grantees—split into two cohorts—led digital inclusion programs in eight of New York’s ten economic development regions, from the Capital District to Western New York. Through their community-centered approach, 8,050 unique program participants benefited from these programs between January 2022 and September 2024. The work of the cohort has been instrumental, spurring innovation and positively impacting the lives of many New Yorkers, including older adults, veterans, people with disabilities, low-income families, BIPOC communities, New Americans, and those impacted by the judicial system. This work helps achieve job placement, financial security, housing stability, and educational attainment for New Yorkers. Highlights of the grantees’ collective key achievements:

• Extensive Digital Skills Training: Grantees provided digital skills instruction to 11,066 participants through courses ranging from basic essentials to advanced training in fields like web development and Python. Many participants enrolled in multiple courses, contributing to the higher total.
• Appropriate Devices: 1,581 participants received their own devices to keep, including laptops, tablets, Chromebooks, and assistive technology. An additional 578 participants accessed loaner devices for training.
• Home Connectivity: Grantees helped 1,916 participants stay connected at home by providing hotspots and Wi-Fi-enabled devices (to keep or on loan). They also supported 1,018 participants in accessing the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) for home broadband.
• Community Wi-Fi & Access: 25 buildings (including 20 low-income housing properties) were connected to or upgraded with Wi-Fi, ensuring 2,217 residents could access connectivity in their homes. Additionally, 107 kiosks and computers were established for use in public lab environments.