Local Non-Profit Awards Tech Grants
UC2B is making over $100,000 in grants to help bring more high tech to low and moderate income areas in Champaign-Urbana. Free Software Foundation/Wikimedia Commons/(CC BY-SA 3.0)
UC2B — Champaign-Urbana’s community fiber-optic broadband network — has awarded its first round of grants for projects aimed at increasing digital access.
UC2B is spending $112,000 to fund eleven projects.
The grants will help improve digital access and digital equity for low and moderate income communities in Champaign Urbana. "For a small community benefit fun, we feel that it’s a pretty significant contribution to the community," said Paul Hixon, UC2B board member.
The projects receiving grants from UC2B include computer labs in churches serving low to moderate income neighborhoods, high tech education programs for youth, and re-entry programs for people just out of prison. The UC2B community benefit is funded through i3 Broadband.
Hixon is grateful the community supports UC2B. "We could not have done what we’ve done without great community support and I just want to thank everyone who helped in that."
Links
- Private Partner to Build Out UC2B Broadband System
- Cities To Begin Making UC2B Non-Profit Entity
- UC2B to Light Up Broadband Service to First Customers
- UC2B Broadband Internet Access for the Citizens of Champaign/Urbana
- UC2B Big Broadband Project Wins Support of Champaign and Urbana City Councils
- UC2B Organizer: Urbana ‘Jumping Gun’ with GM
- UC2B Funding Raises Concerns About Open Access
- Potential UC2B Subscribers Get an Update on Services
- UC2B Seeking Anchor Institutions