by CHARLESTON, W.VA —The West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Office of Broadband (WVDED), launched a new Digital Equity (DE) Asset Map and Dashboard. The DE Asset Map will enable residents and organizations across West Virginia to find organizations that offer digital inclusion services. The map can be found here.
Digital inclusion services are any activities that help underserved or underrepresented communities better access and use the internet. Services may include digital skills training or digital education resources, digital navigators, public computer labs or refurbished device distribution programs.
The DE Asset Map allows users to filter out digital equity assets by county, by type of provider, and by type of services provided. By clicking on the map, users can view the provider’s website, contact information, hours of operation, service details and more. WVDED originally committed to the creation of a public-facing dashboard when it applied for the Digital Equity Planning Grant in 2022. The map will be updated as more assets are identified and digital equity projects are selected.
“It’s important that all West Virginia residents know where they can find the resources they need to fully utilize the internet,” said Derek Zelkowski, Digital Equity Officer at the Office of Broadband. “We strongly encourage organizations throughout West Virginia to apply to the current Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program and to the upcoming Digital Equity Capacity Grant programs to expand these services throughout the State.”
Currently, the map only shows libraries, community action agencies (CAAs), and higher-education institutions. WVDED plans to expand the map by gathering additional data and regularly updating the map with information about State and Federal Veterans Assistance facilities, family support and youth service organizations, senior centers and telehealth providers. Organizations not currently included on the map can request to be added by completing a brief survey link on the website. The WVDED strongly recommends that organizations currently offering related DE services complete the survey so that accurate information is displayed.
The DE Asset Map and Dashboard will also display information about upcoming projects to be funded by the Digital Equity Act programs. These include the DE Competitive Grant Program, which is accepting applications until September 23, 2024, and the DE Capacity Grant Program, through which WVDED will subgrant to eligible entities in Fall 2024.
For more information, please visit broadband.wv.gov and internetforallwv.wv.gov.