The Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans (DOCK) program aims to elevate digital literacy and skills training in Kansas, prioritizing covered populations in economically distressed areas.
Donor Name: Kansas Department of Commerce
State: Kansas
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/18/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) under the Kansas Department of Commerce was established to help ensure all Kansans have the opportunity to live, work, play, learn and compete in a global economy by improving universal access to quality, reliable and affordable broadband. Complementing the efforts surrounding improving universal access to all Kansans, the KOBD recently published the Kansas Digital Equity (DE) Plan that supports Kansans and associated communities in developing the technology capacity needed for full participation in the society and economy. In order to achieve the vision and goals for digital equity, key measurable objectives were established to guide KOBD’s efforts to close the digital equity gap in Kansas. These include:
- Improved availability of broadband across Kansas
- Increased access to and adoption of affordable broadband service
- Focusing on the growth of digital skills, education, and knowledge
- Increased awareness of and proficiency in dealing with online privacy and cyber security issues
- Expanding access to affordable devices with accommodating technical support
- Promoting the online accessibility and inclusivity of public resources and services.
Funding Information
With a total funding of $1.9 million, individual awards may reach $250,000. Successful applications will require a 2% minimum match. The initiative spans from September 12, 2024, to July 31, 2026, and is funded by the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Eligible Costs
Eligible project expenses are expenses related to directly enabling digital literacy and skills training and include, but are not limited to, items such as:
- Costs associated with completing the grant or Application and Grant Plan
- Pre-project development costs and uses, including data-gathering, feasibility studies, community engagement and public feedback processes, equity assessments and planning, and needs assessments
- Personnel costs, including salaries and fringe benefits for staff and consultants required for directly carrying out the project (such as project managers, program directors, subject matter experts, equity consultants, and grant administrators)
- Cost of long-term leases (for terms greater than one year) of facilities required to provide digital literacy and skills training
- Ancillary costs necessary to improve digital literacy
- Costs associated with monitoring and reporting on Projects in compliance with Treasury requirements, including award closeout costs
- Costs associated with collecting and measuring performance data and conducting activities needed to establish and maintain a performance management and evaluation regime related to Projects funded by the Capital Projects Fund program
- Computer equipment, accessories and software supporting digital literacy and skills development
- Digital literacy and skills assessment, training, and curriculum design
- Program creation
- Content creation and delivery
- Program support costs not to exceed 10% of the total subrecipient award (those costs tied directly to the delivery of a particular project or service undertaken by the subrecipient to achieve an outcome intended by the funding program).
Eligible Solutions
Eligible digital literacy and skills development solutions include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Digital literacy and skills assessment
- Digital literacy and skills development curriculum design
- Content creation and delivery
- Monitoring program outcomes
- Promoting collaboration between digital equity organizations to expand offerings that could fund opportunities to pilot new collaborations from cohort support
- Enabling established digital literacy and skill development partners to continue to build their footprint until digital equity services are offered statewide
- Funding train-the-trainer programs for organizations that are rapidly expanding their digital navigation systems and building a cadre of certified and qualified trainers (Navigators) capable of providing:
- Basic device support
- Guidance for online public services
- Information on navigating the internet
- Training for commonly used software
- Identifying, supporting, and promoting programs that build basic and advanced digital skills for high-demand workforce careers including technology-forward programs in higher education institutions, technology skills programs
- Expanding technology-centric “Career Cluster” for K-12 students, paying particular attention to areas with historic underinvestment
- Aligning existing efforts on cybersecurity with the Kansas Office of Information Technology Services (OITS), the universities, community colleges, the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR), and others to ensure there is a continued evolution of and learning about cybersecurity issues, including providing funding to increase cybersecurity awareness and facility awareness for covered populations.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must have a demonstrated history in the planning and delivery of digital literacy and skills development training capabilities at no charge to targeted populations. Required capabilities include but are not limited to:
- Skills assessment and training
- Curriculum development
- Content creation and delivery
- Monitoring program outcomes
- Eligible applicants include:
- Non-profit organizations
- Political subdivisions or entities of political subdivisions
- Counties
- Municipalities
- For-profit businesses and organizations, including broadband service providers
- Tribal Governments
- Libraries
- School districts
- Museums
- Higher education institutions
- Co-operatives
- Electric Utilities
For more information, visit Kansas Department of Commerce.
