Finger Lakes Digital Inclusion Coalition

IN ITS 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, THE FLDIC HAS THE STATED OBJECTIVE OF ASSISTING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIGITAL EQUITY REGIONAL PLAN. TOWARDS THIS END, IT HAS NOW COMPILED PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ABOUT EACH COUNTY'S BROADBAND ACTIVITIES. IT HAS ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ABOUT SUCCESSFUL GRANT FUNDING TO-DATE AND THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED IN SOME COUNTIES TO BUILD OUT BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.ANOTHER STATED OBJECTIVE THIS YEAR WAS TO EXPAND AWARENESS OF OUR WORK. MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ASSISTING UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED MINORITIES IN THE REGION ARE NOW AWARE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION PROGRAMS UNDER THE IIJA AND ARE PLUGGED INTO THE COALITION'S PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. BEFORE OUR TARGETED OUTREACH, THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THESE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.WE'VE ALSO INCREASED OUR OUTREACH TO OUR NINE COUNTY DIRECTORS OF PLANNING AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GENESEE FINGER LAKES REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL WHO ARE POSITIONED TO RECEIVE BROADBAND FUNDS. AS WELL, WE'VE ENHANCED OUR CONTACTS WITH THE NYS CONNECT ALL OFFICE (FORMERLY THE NYS BROADBAND OFFICE).THE COALITION ALSO MET ITS STATED GOAL OF ADDING 15 NEW ORGANIZATIONS TO ITS CURRENT BASE OF 190 MEMBERS. THESE ORGANIZATIONS SERVE THE TWO LARGEST UNSERVED RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE FINGER LAKES, AS WELL AS FARMERS, VETERANS, REFUGEES, OLDER ADULTS, AND THOSE SEEKING TO EXPAND RURAL JOB CREATION.