Bloomington Again Recognized as Digital Inclusion Trailblazer

The City of Bloomington has been recognized by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) as a 2024 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer. This national program recognizes Bloomington’s  continuing efforts to close the digital divide.  First launched in 2016, Digital Inclusion Trailblazers is a public inventory of local government initiatives promoting digital literacy and broadband access for underserved residents.  The City was commended for its continuing efforts to bridge the digital divide, including conducting a scientific survey on broadband equity, developing a Digital Equity (DE) Strategic Plan, establishing a DE Grants Fund for nonprofit organizations, DE staffing, and efforts to make high speed broadband more available and affordable.

Recognizing the array of interests and unique barriers of its community members, Bloomington, joins a record number of Digital Inclusion Trailblazers this year. NDIA awarded a total of 60 awardees representing municipal, county, and regional governments, paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the US. 

“Creating an equitable community means ensuring every resident has the tools and access they need to succeed, including in the digital realm,” says Mayor Kerry Thomson. “From helping children access remote learning to supporting job seekers and ensuring older adults stay connected, these efforts touch every aspect of our community’s well-being. We are incredibly grateful for the partnerships and community support that have been vital to this progress and make this work possible. This recognition from NDIA affirms we’re on the right path.”

In an increasingly connected society,  digital inclusion--access to affordable high-speed internet, devices, and digital skills training--is essential not only to participate in today’s world but also to find greater opportunities to thrive using tools to navigate the internet confidently and independently. 

“In the past decade, we’ve seen local governments step into the important role of building digital inclusion ecosystems, where organizations that provide services can connect and thrive,” said Angela Siefer, NDIA executive director. “NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazers celebrates these critical efforts to bring digital opportunities to all residents.”

Trailblazers provide models for other local governments to aspire to as communities build digital inclusion ecosystems. Bloomington achieved Trailblazer status by prioritizing digital inclusion for residents of their communities through:

• First in the state Digital Equity Survey and Strategic Plan
• Digital Equity Grants Fund program to local nonprofit community partners
• Investment in Digital Equity Staffing in City’s ITS Department 
• Digital Equity Plan with Meridiam to make broadband access ubiquitous and affordable across the city

NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazers has set the national standard for excellent digital inclusion work since 2016. Each applicant’s materials are verified for accuracy, assessed for community impact, and posted in an interactive map and searchable database on NDIA’s website. By sharing materials with open sourcing, NDIA provides community advocates and local governments ways to continue learning, connect with trailblazing peers, and plan their own digital inclusion solutions.

For more information about the City’s activities and investments to promote digital inclusion and equity, please visit the City’s Digital Equity website. 

“We are proud to be recognized once again as among the leading communities attending to digital equity challenges,” stated Rick Dietz, Information & Technology Services Department Director, “and 2025 looks to be a transformative year as we refresh our Digital Equity Survey and Digital Equity Strategic Plan, and work to bring Hoosier Fiber Networks’ ground breaking high speed fiber network buildout to substantial completion.”

The City of Bloomington ITS Department is also hiring for a Digital Equity Specialist position to support our Digital Equity Program, including the recommended 4-year $11.4 million NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program award, updates to our Digital Equity Strategic Plan in 2025, administering the City's own Digital Equity Grants initiative, pursuit and management of federal, state and local Digital Equity grants, the DE elements of our citywide open access fiber project, and more. The application deadline is January 20, 2025. For more information or to apply, visit bloomington.in.gov/jobs.