Elevate Digital Collaborative Aims to Bridge Digital Divide in Rural Western North Carolina

Strategic Insights -

The Elevate Digital Collaborative, a year-long effort to increase access to broadband and digital training in rural Western North Carolina, is progressing steadily. Led by Western Carolina University instructor Tonya Snider and regional consulting firm tenBiz Inc., the initiative aims to equip residents with the skills, devices, and resources needed to fully leverage broadband for positive economic, health, and educational outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Elevate Digital Collaborative is part of Dogwood Health Trust's Digital Opportunities Initiative, a broader effort to make broadband internet available, affordable, and useful for everyone in Western North Carolina.
  • The initiative is focused on closing the digital divide in Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties, and on the Qualla Boundary, with a goal of creating a customized digital opportunity plan that improves broadband access, affordability, digital skills, and technology resources.
  • The project has held four public engagement sessions to gain understanding of the real-world challenges faced by residents and community organizations, and has identified a digital gap analysis as a key next step.
  • Strategies for addressing gaps in online access, devices, or skills training may include digital navigator or technology support programs, access and training for telehealth services, workforce digital literacy training, intergenerational mentorship models, and public-private broadband partnerships.
  • The initiative has secured $125,000 in funding from Dogwood Trust to support early action items and position the region to pursue additional federal and state grants.
  • Leaders of the Elevate Digital effort meet monthly with representatives of other regional collaboratives to share information, align resources, and provide accountability.
  • The project is bringing together representatives of various organizations to develop new partnerships and create a network and structure to continue this work.

Statistics:

  • The Digital Opportunities Initiative is funding 10 regional collaboratives across Western North Carolina.
  • Dogwood Health Trust has committed nearly $125,000 to support early action items of the Elevate Digital Collaborative.
  • The project aims to create a customized digital opportunity plan for Western North Carolina's 18 counties and Qualla Boundary.
  • The initiative has already seen indirect benefits through the expansion of partners involved, leading to finding out that the needs of one organization could be met by work being done by another.

Sources:

  • News release from Western Carolina University.
  • Dogwood Health Trust through its Digital Opportunities Initiative.
  • Sarah Thompson, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Economic Opportunity at Dogwood Health Trust.
  • Tonya Snider, Instructor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Western Carolina University.
  • Becca Scott, Director of Community and Economic Development for the Southwestern Commission.