Wilmington, North Carolina, considers $2.5 million to fund digital job training for underserved communities

Wilmington (NC) is looking to launch an initiative that would build out a hometown workforce connecting residents to jobs. Specifically geared toward local employers’ needs, the nonprofit program would “bridge the digital divide” by offering computer literacy training to low-income individuals. Matthew Bauer, vice president for Connected Communities WRC, presented an overview of the proposed strategy to the Wilmington city council at its August 1 agenda briefing. Connected Communities — in collaboration with local partners StepUp Wilmington, Cape Fear Collective, Live Oak Bank and city staff — would implement its DigitalBridge platform, first initiated in Wake Forest (NC) in April 2023. Council members agreed the program is needed and could be beneficial to the city and its residents. Connected Communities is a branch of Wireless Research Center, a nonprofit formed in 2010, headquartered in Raleigh (NC) with offices in Colorado. It’s designed to enforce digital equity and helps underserved communities gain technical skills and access to higher-paying jobs. DigitalBridge offers a proprietary learning platform that assesses skill level and guides clients on a career path for which they may not have otherwise been qualified. Individuals are matched with local, regional and national employers with on-site or remote opportunities. The program is free to those who qualify, which in Wilmington is roughly 70,000 people based on average median income and education.