2409C13035

Project Purpose: The Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program, Connect Eagle Nation, is a collaborative pilot program led by Coppin State University to close the digital gap in Baltimore City. The Connect Eagle Nation proposal will focus on outreach and education, through the use of digital navigators; upgrading technology skills through a practical curriculum to develop workforce skills; planning & capacity building; providing access to computers; and providing an assessment in technology and telehealth in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

Activities: The Connect Eagle Nation project is an innovative project with five activities:

1. Purchase and distribute laptops to targeted community recipients;
2. The partner firm WIS Education will create a curriculum for the new cyber apprenticeship program resulting in industry certification;
3. A new digital navigator program will assist community members in affordable internet adoption, device acquisition, technical skills, application support, and the use of computing devices;
4. The Coppin School of Nursing will collaborate with Baltimore County to provide health and technology assessment in Baltimore County/City with the help of digital navigators; and
5. A planning and capacity building committee will map services to analyze community readiness and needs for broadband. It will also partner with government leaders, other institutions, K-12 schools, business organizations, and non-profits to combine resources, evaluate existing digital infrastructure for a coherent strategy, and present a unified community voice.

Outcomes: As a result of project implementation, the project aims to:

- Develop a pipeline of device delivery to low-income households, prioritizing households with school-age children;
- Enhance the capability of Coppin State University and Enoch Pratt Library to provide outreach support and digital skills training; and
- Create a planning and capacity building committee that supports local efforts that help educate the Eagle Nation communities on identifying needs and goals, start conversations with providers, evaluate options, and move towards implementing infrastructure projects.

Beneficiaries: The Connect Eagle Nation project aims to connect the Mondawmin, Coppin Heights, Easterwood, Walbrook, Panway/Braddish Avenue, Sandtown/Winchester, Penn North communities, and surrounding anchor communities in Baltimore, Maryland by providing outreach, access, equipment, and support services to facilitate greater use of broadband services.

Subrecipient Activities: The subrecipients are:

1. National Forum for Black Public Administrators providing project evaluation, WIS and NPower coordination, and health assessment coordination;
2. Baltimore County, providing health and technology assessment in Baltimore County/City with the help of digital navigators;
3. Enoch Pratt Free Library to provide outreach support and digital skills training;
4. WIS Education, a cyber training and education firm, to provide broadband education, awareness, and training (including digital navigators); and
5. NPower, a tech training firm, to provide tech fundamentals and digital navigator training.

Coppin State University

TO PROVIDE FEDERAL FUNDING TO ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS IN ANCHOR COMMUNITIES: FOR THE PURCHASE OF BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE OR ANY ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT, OR TO HIRE AND TRAIN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PERSONNEL; TO FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING, INCLUDING THROUGH REMOTE INSTRUCTION; TO OPERATE A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (MBE); OR TO OPERATE A TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION. TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE LACK OF BROADBAND ACCESS, CONNECTIVITY, ADOPTION AND EQUITY AT OUR NATION¿S HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS), TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (TCUS), AND MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS (MSIS), AND IN THEIR SURROUNDING ANCHOR COMMUNITIES. TO FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING, INCLUDING THROUGH REMOTE INSTRUCTION; AND TO CONSORTIA INCLUDING MBES OR TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS TO OPERATE THAT MBE OR TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION. TO SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY BUILDING THE DIGITAL CAPACITY OF THE ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS AND FURTHERING BROADBAND ACCESS, ADOPTION, AND DIGITAL SKILLS WITHIN THOSE INSTITUTIONS AND IN THEIR SURROUNDING ANCHOR COMMUNITIES.

11.028 - Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]

Baltimore, Maryland 21216-3633 United States

Single Zip Code

Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (NTIA-CMCPP-2021)

COVID-19 $3,990,880 (100%) percent of this Project Grant was funded by COVID-19 emergency acts including the CARES Act.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 01/14/25 to 01/14/26.