Massachusetts Broadband Institute Debuts $9.44 Million Launchpad Program

The Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Massachusetts Broadband Institute debuted their Launchpad Program, a new initiative to expand Wi-Fi access, device distribution, digital literacy training, and internet adoption across Massachusetts. The Program will provide financial support to organizations that are interested in addressing digital access gaps. This includes non-profits, community-based organizations, and municipalities. The Launchpad Program will build on the success of the six focus areas of the Digital Equity Partnerships Program, including connectivity for economic hardship (providing ‘hot spots’ to low-income/housing insecure individuals), device distribution and refurbishment, digital literacy, education, outreach and adoption support, public space internet modernization, and Wi-Fi access. Selected applicants will have two years to implement their proposed projects. Proposals may not exceed a $1,000,000 budget. Only the most impactful proposals will be considered for awards at the maximum amount.