Innovations in Digital Equity & Access (IDEA) Grant (New York State)

Innovations in Digital Equity & Access (IDEA) Grant (New York State) is sponsored by New York State ConnectALL Office. This New York State-specific grant aims to develop new initiatives to improve how people use affordable and reliable broadband service. It supports increased digital skills, access to digital devices, and appropriate technical and social support.

Digital Equity | ConnectALL Office Achieving Digital Equity in New York State Overview: A Unified Vision ConnectALL is committed to doubling the capacity of New York State’s digital equity ecosystem. New York’s digital equity practitioners have worked for decades to create sustainable digital equity ecosystems on local, regional, and statewide levels.

ConnectALL is meeting the unprecedented opportunity for digital equity funding created by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to build on the existing infrastructure and expertise of New York’s digital equity practitioners.

New York State’s Digital Equity Plan lays out ConnectALL’s unified vision for enhancing digital literacy, job readiness skills, access to affordable internet and devices, digital privacy and safety, and the accessibility of government services online.

Read the Digital Equity Program Guidelines The New York State Digital Equity Plan The New York State Digital Equity Plan establishes a vision and comprehensive framework to guide ConnectALL’s digital equity strategy. In 2023, ConnectALL received $2. 2 million under the Digital Equity Act to engage in statewide outreach and develop its State Digital Equity Plan.

Over 5,000 New Yorkers contributed to the Plan by participating in surveys, focus groups, and meetings led by State agencies and digital equity coalitions.

In April 2024, Governor Hochul unveiled ConnectALL’s $50 million New York State Digital Equity Plan, The Plan details: a vision for digital equity with strategies and outcome areas to guide ConnectALL’s digital equity investments a baseline of digital equity data and assets for the state, including an asset inventory and needs assessment analyzed by region, by Covered Population, and by measure objective (a digital inclusion activity or need) ConnectALL’s principles for and methods of stakeholder engagement in the Plan, and implementation strategies moving forward: Grounding Investments in an Asset-Based Approach to the direct delivery of digital equity programs and services that will drive resident access to assistive and connected devices, high-quality digital literacy programs, digital safety and privacy skills, and accessibility.

Strengthening Networks for Coordinated Action . ConnectALL will facilitate collaborations between backbone entities to innovate and sustain impacts with and for Covered Populations across the state.

Building Alignment and Awareness to amplify the diverse offerings of the ecosystem through ongoing public education campaigns and the creation of New York State’s first Digital Equity Directory - a public repository of digital inclusion best practices, programs, resources, services, and affordable internet service options.

Sharpening and Socializing the State’s Digital Equity Lens with robust research and data partnerships to continuously improve digital equity strategies and outcomes for all residents.

With these efforts, ConnectALL expects to significantly expand the reach and effectiveness of digital equity programs across New York State by building on existing assets, strengthening partnerships, and connecting the most difficult locations in the state.

Read the New York State Digital Equity Plan Leer el Estado de Nueva York Plan de Equidad Digital Read the New York State Digital Equity Plan Appendices ConnectALL Digital Equity Program Guidelines Digital Equity Technical Assistance Fund Provides funds to digital inclusion groups to advance collaborative capacities to grow the digital equity ecosystem.

Learn more about the Digital Equity Technical Assistance Fund ConnectALL is no longer accepting applications for the Digital Equity Program Capacity Grant Digital Equity Program Capacity Grant Grant funding to improve, scale, and sustain the capacities of New York’s digital equity ecosystem.

Learn more about the Digital Equity Program Capacity Grant ConnectALL is no longer accepting applications for the Digital Equity Program Capacity Grant ConnectALL's Digital Equity Program: Digital Equity Grant The ConnectALL Digital Equity Program will award grants to established programs that improve how people use affordable and reliable broadband service through increased skills, access to digital devices, and appropriate technical and social support.

ConnectALL's Innovations in Digital Equity & Access (IDEA) Grant The ConnectALL Innovations in Digital Equity & Access (IDEA) Grant will award grants throughout the state to develop new initiatives to improve how people use affordable and reliable broadband service through increased skills, access to digital devices, and appropriate technical and social support.

ConnectALL’s Digital Equity Program Capacity Grant (Applications closed August 25, 2025) These grants promote a diverse array of digital inclusion projects across the State.

NTIA’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program (Applications closed September 23, 2024) This federal grant program will fund initiatives nationwide that ensure communities have the access and skills to fully participate in the digital world, regardless of their background or circumstances.

ConnectALL’s Digital Equity Technical Assistance Fund (Application closed July 30, 2024) Provides funds to digital inclusion groups to advance collaborative capacities to grow the digital equity ecosystem in New York State. ConnectALL recognizes that State entity partners are uniquely positioned to advance digital equity.

By funding digital equity projects with State partners, ConnectALL advances the capacity of New York’s ecosystem at a systems level, engages hard-to-reach communities statewide, and ensures impacts in access to and outcomes for education, employment, and public services.

ConnectALL has made the following discretionary grants through State Partnerships: Awardee Description Award Amount Digital and Media Services Center, Office of General Services Develop and apply a unified accessibility audit framework to help state agencies understand, evaluate, and prioritize digital accessibility. $500,000 Please send your questions to: [email protected] Scroll back to the top of the page