About Our Project:

To bridge the digital divide and promote engagement in the digital economy across all 67 Alabama counties, the Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs is proposing an outreach campaign and interactive training program in partnership with several major community serving organizations. The project has been designed and will be coordinated by the Economic & Community Development Institute at Auburn University. To help foster demand, the project proposes to educate and train residents in the social and economic benefits of broadband technology and practical applications of computers and software. The project plans to employ targeted outreach to economically vulnerable populations in the state including Hispanic, African American, disabled, low income, and senior citizen residents through mobile facilities. Among the anticipated beneficiaries is the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, whose members will receive training, access to new public computer facilities, and other broadband opportunities.

This project is funded through a two-year grant of $1,181,348 from the U.S Department of Commerce’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. 

Our Mission:

The Connecting Alabama project also proposes to:

• Provide computer skills and broadband training to as many as 11,500 residents over the life of the project, offering approximately 115,000 training hours focusing on online connectivity, career building, entrepreneurship and business development, community resources, and education.
• Partner with the BEACON Consortium of six state community colleges, including historically black colleges, to provide local and regional outreach campaigns, project assistance and computer-equipped training sites for the project.
• Develop and deliver specially-designed training modules for the Alabama Institute 

 Project Partners:

• Connecting Alabama
• Economic & Community Development Institute (Auburn University)
• Alabama Community College System
• Poarch Band of Creek Indians
• Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama
• Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind
• Creek Indian Enterprises Development Authority
• Alabama Community Leadership Network
• AARP
• Alabama Rural Action Commission
• Alabama Community Services Block Grant Programs

Contact: 

Jessica Dent

Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

401 Adams Ave,

Montgomery, AL 361044325

334-353-5682

5d. Email Address

Jessica.dent@adeca.alabama.gov