Buckeye Hills Regional Council proudly joins the seventh annual Digital Inclusion Week, October 2-6, 2023, a national week of action to raise awareness and amplify the importance of digital equity. This year’s theme, “Building Connected Communities,” aligns with Buckeye Hills’ goal to bring digital access and skills to everyone in Southeast Ohio and the council’s mission to improve the quality of life in the region.
“This week serves as an opportunity to celebrate the progress made in Appalachian Ohio and raise awareness of the work yet to be done to ensure all our residents have access to affordable internet service and the tools and skills to unlock the opportunities it provides,” said Ryan Collins, Program Manager for Buckeye Hills Regional Council. “We’re grateful for the many partners advancing digital inclusion in our region, including local libraries, schools, community action agencies, senior centers, job and family services offices, colleges and universities, and our local, state, and federal government partners.”
BroadbandOhio, a division of the Department of Development, was created more than three years ago to help bridge the digital divide and ensure that all Ohioans have high-speed internet access.
In February of 2023, BroadbandOhio hosted its first Digital Opportunity Summit, where five Regional Digital Inclusion Alliances (RDIAs) were selected to champion digital opportunity at the grassroots level. Those sites were the Toledo Lucas County Public Library (Northwest), the Cleveland Foundation (Northeast), Smart Columbus (Central), Buckeye Hills Regional Council (Southeast), and United Way of Greater Cincinnati (Southwest).
You can learn more about Buckeye Hills Regional Council’s Regional Digital Inclusion Alliance work.
“You cannot have opportunities in a modern economy without access to broadband internet and the skills to use it, which is why our mission to make Ohio more connected is so important,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “During this week, I encourage all Ohioans to take advantage of the resources available to become more knowledgeable and better able to use the tools that connect us across the state.”
Among the key components of digital inclusion are affordable, robust broadband internet service, internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user, access to digital literacy training, quality technical support, and applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.
“Making sure all Ohioans have the necessary digital resources has never been more important,” said Lydia Mihalik, the director of the Department of Development. “Not only do we continue in our quest to ensure that everyone has access to the internet capabilities that they need, but also that they have the educational opportunities that will guide them to success.”
Initially started as Digital Inclusion Day in May of 2016, the NDIA expanded the event to a week in 2017 to bring further attention to what it’s official website calls “awareness, recognition, and celebration” of the importance of promoting digital equity.
In 2022, 238 organizations, agencies, tribes, and towns participated during DIW.
The NDIA is holding a series of webinars, listed on its official website, with the first called “Digital Inclusion 101” on October 2. Other webinars include “Building for Digital Equity” and “Telling Your Digital Inclusion Story” on October 3, “Digital Inclusion 102” on October 4 and “Digital Navigators Building Connected Communities” on October 5.
Ohio is participating in the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, a federally funded grant, to help achieve its digital equity goals. The plan emphasizes low-income households, aging populations, incarcerated individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, people with language barriers, racial and ethnic minorities, and rural inhabitants.
The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio’s people, places, and businesses. Learn more about our work at the Ohio Department of Development.