Nashville Receives $1.9 Million Technology Grant for Workforce Development and Access

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – The city of Nashville has received a $1.9 million technology grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund – American Rescue Plan to advance the access to technology and promote workforce development.

According to Mayor Freddie O’Connell, the donation will launch a new program called TechTies: Connected Services for the Community. The program will “help residents live, learn and work more successfully using technology” by providing technology training, free laptops, learning and employment opportunities and virtual health monitoring in a single metropolitan location.

“Our vision with TechnologyTies Nashville is to create a single point of access to digital opportunities”, said the mayor. “I appreciate the team’s thoughtfulness in launching this program, including its focus on the location, which is highly accessible to residents via multiple modes of transportation.”

The initiative aims to assist participants who need assistance with transportation, a known barrier to accessing digital inclusion programs, according to the city hall. Metro Nashville will remove a known barrier to participation by providing transportation to and from Metro Action Commission facilities through the grant.

The $1.9 million award is the result of a successful proposal for Connected Community Facilities. DPI’s competitive grant program is one of several programs the state has developed to promote digital opportunities.

“We are excited to provide multiple services under one roof while also expanding our workforce development program,” said Metro Action Commission (MAC) Executive Director Dr. Cynthia Croom. “This is a way to provide individuals of all ages and backgrounds with the tools and resources they need to break cycles of poverty and thrive in today’s connected world.”

MAC is a lead partner in the new initiative, and its new facility at 1281 Murfreesboro Pike is where the program will be held, according to the mayor’s office.

TechTies is a collaborative effort between Metro government and several local community-serving organizations to provide “comprehensive digital solutions tailored to the diverse needs of Nashville residents.

“Our partnerships underscore our commitment to supporting and working with trusted local organizations to create opportunities for all members of our community,” said the mayor.

“This competitive award is the culmination of a ten-year effort to bring a comprehensive program of digital opportunities to deserving communities in Metro Nashville and Davidson County,” said Keith Durbin, Metro’s chief information and IT officer, “We have We are incredibly fortunate to have the unwavering support of Mayor O’Connell and our partners at the Metro Action Commission and the Metro General Services Department to help make this dream come true.”

According to Keith Durbin, Metro’s chief information officer and IT officer, the grant is the culmination of a 10-year effort to bring a comprehensive program of digital opportunities to deserving communities in Metro Nashville and Davidson County.

“We were very fortunate to have the unwavering support of Mayor O’Connell and our partners at the Metro Action Commission and the Metro General Services Department to help make this dream come true.”

“Technology affects many aspects of life,” said Pearl Amanfu, digital inclusion officer, who leads the digital inclusion program. “Single tactic solutions no longer work to fill the growing digital opportunity gap. Broadband access has the greatest impact when people also have the skills, devices and ongoing support to fully realize the technology’s full benefits.”