FloridaCommerce Connects 15 Local Education and Workforce Development Partners with $11 Million in Digital Connectivity Support

~ Awards will help Florida communities with resources for digital literacy, education, training, mentorship and employment opportunities. ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - FloridaCommerce recently visited 15 Florida local education, workforce and community development partners to award them more than $11 million through ConnectedFlorida's Digital Connectivity Technology Program (DCTP). These awards will help communities, including small and rural communities, with access to broadband internet and assist with digital literacy, education, training, mentorship and employment opportunities.

"Under Governor DeSantis' leadership, Florida continues to invest resources in those local workforce, education, and job creation activities that give young and old alike a pathway to high demand, high-value opportunities," said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. "These broadband connectivity awards are focused on exactly those kinds of targeted programs that allow Floridians to elevate their skills, ultimately position themselves and their families for prosperity and opportunity."

The following entities received awards:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County ($500,000) - To provide the community of St. Lucie County with more than 300 digital devices, such as laptops, to help enable work, education, and health monitoring.
• Bridge To Hope W.O.C., Inc. ($404,693) - To provide the Bridge to Hope Learning Lab with more than 300 pieces of equipment and devices, such as laptops, to help enable work, education, and health.
• Centro Campesino ($779,018) - For more than 700 digital devices to help enable work, education, and health monitoring.
• Figgers Foundation ($5,499,580) - To provide multiple counties throughout Florida access to digital devices to help enable work, education, and health monitoring.
• Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners ($355,200) - To provide three public libraries in Quincy, Chattahoochee and Havana with laptops to help enable work, education, and health monitoring.
• Hardee County Industrial Development Authority ($391,380) - To bring free Wi-Fi to Hardee County residents and visitors in downtown Wauchula and the Hardee County Fairgrounds.
• Helping Advance and Nurture the Development of Youth, Inc. (HANDY) ($242,571) - In partnership with FLITE Center, Community-Based Connections, Inc., HOPE South Florida, Reyna Group Home and HOMES, Inc., to provide digital devices such as laptops, tablets, and desktops to help enable work, education, and health monitoring.
• Miami-Dade County ($1,417,600) - To provide the Miami-Dade Public Library System with more 900 digital devices such as laptops, tablets and desktops across 30 branches.
• OIC of South Florida ($408,313) - To equip the OIC with digital devices such as laptops to help enable work, education, and health monitoring.
• Pasco County Board of County Commissioners ($149,765) - To equip the Pasco County Library with desktop computers to improve internet access in Pasco County.
• Polk State College ($114,642) - To provide and install laptops for Polk State College's new "Collab Lab" for public use, improving broadband access for the community.
• Santa Rosa County ($100,000) - To provide the Santa Rosa County Library with laptops to enable work, education, and health monitoring for Santa Rosa County residents.
• S.E.E.K Foundation, Inc. ($496,125) - To improve broadband access for residents of Miami-Dade County, a combination of a public Wi-Fi system and an increase in available digital devices-more than 600 laptops, tablets, and desktops at the SMART Tech Health Hub will help enable work, education, and health monitoring.
• St. Petersburg College Board of Trustees ($258,735) - To equip the St. Petersburg College Campus Public Library with 300 laptops to help enable increased work, education, and health monitoring opportunities for the Pinellas County community.
• The District Board of Trustees of Miami-Dade College ($462,866) - To equip the POWER Center with more than 300 digital devices providing increased access to broadband for Florida families.

Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County

Bridge to Hope W.O.C., Inc.

Centro Campesino

Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners

Hardee County Industrial Development Authority

Helping Advance and Nurture the Development of Youth, Inc. (HANDY)

Miami-Dade County Public Library System

OIC of South Florida

Pasco County Board of County Commissioners

Polk State College

Santa Rosa County

S.E.E.K Foundation, Inc.

St. Petersburg College Board of Trustees

The District Board of Trustees of Miami-Dade College

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