Haywood Community College receives $400,000 to support high-speed internet and digital literacy resources

(Clyde, NC) – Recipients of the Digital Champion Grants were announced mid-June 2024, with Haywood Community College among over 60 organizations receiving funding. This grant was developed to help North Carolinians afford high-speed internet, obtain digital devices, and access digital literacy resources.

The federal American Rescue Plan Act funds the grant with the goal to expand digital equity programming and advance digital inclusion and opportunity across North Carolina. All funded projects will develop or expand digital equity programming and address at least one key element for digital inclusion, such as high-speed internet affordability, obtaining internet-enabled devices, access to digital literacy and skills training, quality technical support, and online content to increase accessibility and inclusivity.

Dr. Shelley White, President of HCC shares, “Haywood County has made tremendous gains in digital access in recent years. The Digital Champion grant allows HCC to build on that progress by delivering and increasing digital literacy skills directly to our communities. We are fortunate to have this opportunity to assist with the future of learning and working.”

Haywood Community College has identified three main focus areas for utilizing the grant funds to support high-speed internet access and digital literacy resources.

A full-time Digital Navigator will be hired to support digital literacy. Their work will include teaching community digital literacy classes, coaching digital skills, providing technical support for community members, and sharing resources for affordable home internet.

Haywood Community College will also purchase refurbished laptops from E2D. These laptops will be provided to students at no charge who achieve certain requirements in a digital literacy course, with some to be added to the college’s existing lending library for students to borrow during the semester.

To ensure Haywood Community College students are learning on and experiencing the most up-to-date computer equipment, funding will be used to replace outdated equipment in classrooms and devices currently in use with HCC employees.

The activities planned for these grant funds will advance digital equity for residents in our community through access to digital literacy classes and the availability of technical support. This will also allow for clear communication with residents in the community to support them with home connectivity, how to afford internet, and the knowledge of the steps needed to get internet access. Laptops provided for college students will run the most recent operating systems, increasing the speed and quality of their online activities.

The application of these funds supports the college's findings over the past few years which shows an increase in online learning and the realization of a lack of community internet access. The student technology lending program has only grown over the past three years, offering free equipment such as laptops, webcams, and more to students who could not otherwise afford these items for their coursework.

The launch of this project will support many in the Haywood County community including HCC students, low-income residents, older citizens, and displaced workers. This unique plan allows the college to serve not only current students but future students and the community at large.