10/28/2024
The Town will hold a Digital Equity open house at the Slate Memorial Library on October 30th from 4-6 PM. It’s a drop-in format, so you can come when you want and stay for as long as you want. If you can't make it to the open house, you can have a second bite at the apple, so to speak, at Town Hall on Election Day, November 5th. The posters, notes, and ideas from the open house will be on display and you’re welcome to add your thoughts and comments.
The Town received a grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to develop a Digital Equity Plan that will identify a strategy to ensure all people have the tools and skills they need to access and use digital technologies. Digital equity plans can include programs and funding for affordable internet and devices, digital skills training, and increasing internet availability, among other things. Digital equity is important because it promotes equal opportunities and inclusivity in the digital age. It allows people to participate in education, employment, healthcare, and civic engagement.
In Massachusetts, the Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program helps municipalities make local investments in digital equity. The program provides funds to execute projects that are indicated in a municipality's Digital Equity Plan. Gill has engaged planners from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) to help us create our Plan.
The workshop on October 30th is intended to gather feedback from residents, municipal officials, community groups, and other stakeholders (“digital equity stakeholders”) to gather information on the needs of our residents and the digital equity issues facing the municipality. Populations most impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic are also a focus of the Plan.
