Grants provide opportunities for digital skills trainings for members of the Knoxville community
(KNOXVILLE, Tenn.): May 2, 2023 – Comcast today announced it has awarded $55,000 in grants to local non-profits to support digital equity in Greater Knoxville.
The grants have been awarded to Centro Hispano, Shora Foundation, the Knoxville Area Urban League and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. The funds will provide opportunities for members to receive digital skills trainings, support digital development programs for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and complete workforce development trainings.
“We are proud to support the critical work that our non-profit partners are doing in Knoxville and East Tennessee,” said Jason Gumbs, Regional Senior Vice President at Comcast. “Everyone should have access to the tools and skills needed to thrive in today’s online world.”
Comcast is committed to supporting organizations actively engaged in providing digital skills training programs and bridging the digital divide.
In addition to the grants from the Comcast Foundation, Comcast also responds to community needs through local sponsorships, employee volunteerism, providing technology, equipment and services to organizations, creating Wi-Fi connected Comcast Lift Zones, and connecting residents to Comcast’s low-cost broadband adoption program, Internet Essentials. Since its launch in 2011, Internet Essentials has connected more than 10 million Americans to the Internet at home – including more than 680,000 in Tennessee.
Additionally, Comcast is participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). ACP is available for all speed tiers of Xfinity Internet service including Internet Essentials. ACP is a federal program that provides eligible customers up to a $30 per month credit toward their Internet and mobile services for the duration of the program.
Today’s announcement is part of Project UP, Comcast’s 10-year, $1 billion pledge to advance digital equity through programs and community partnerships that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility, and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators.
