View the entire newsletter for more articles: 2023 – NJAC County Biz – September
by Tiffany McClary, Director of Communications, Marketing & Outreach, New Jersey State Library
The New Jersey State Library (NJSL), an affiliate of Thomas Edison State University, has a mission to connect all New Jerseyans with information through libraries — from pre-kindergarteners on the brink of literacy, to students on the path to graduation and early careers, to disconnected individuals of all ages on the far side of the digital divide. Through various community programs, New Jersey libraries and other community-focused institutions are making significant strides to address areas of continuing need, such as community infrastructure improvements, broadband affordability and connectivity, and digital literacy. The State Library is pleased to announce two new initiatives, geared toward addressing critical community needs and bridging the digital divide for New Jersey residents.
Community Center Digital Connect
The State Library is facilitating a new competitive grant opportunity – Community Center Digital Connect. It is funded by the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, established by Section 604 of the Social Security Act, as added by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Though it is managed by the State Library, eligible applicants include community centers operated by a governmental agency or a nonprofit community organization, full-service community schools, health centers, and public libraries in New Jersey. This grant program will support the construction or improvement of buildings that enable work, education, and health monitoring.
Funding is aimed at reducing disparities in access to workforce, healthcare and education resources, that resulted from or were exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Eligible capital projects must support pre-selected communities that do not have adequate access to the resources or services that are provided by the proposed project, whether because of the physical absence or insufficiency within the community.
Applications are due September 25, 2023. You can find more information, including a recording of the technical assistance webinar, question and answer documents, and full grant guidelines on the State Library’s website at: https://www.njstatelib.org/CPF.
ACP Connects NJ
In partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), the State Library recently launched ACP Connects NJ, an initiative geared toward helping build awareness and participation in New Jersey for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). ACP is a national broadband affordability initiative of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that helps households afford the broadband they need for work, school, health care, and more. Eligible households receive a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service. The benefit also provides a discount of up to $100 per household toward a one-time qualifying purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet.
NJSL received a federal ACP grant for $400,000 from the FCC to support New Jersey households struggling to afford internet service. NJSL and NJDOH will collaborate with other community partners, including food pantries and Federally Qualified Health Centers, to host enrollment and outreach events. The ACP Connects NJ initiative will concentrate on communities in Central and South Jersey. Several organizations in Newark, Jersey City and Hoboken are offering similar events for people living in North Jersey.
Eligible households can enroll by going to GetInternet.gov to submit an online application or print a mail-in application. For questions about the ACP Connect NJ initiative, contact Mimi Lee, New Jersey State Library, at mlee@njstatelib.org, (609) 278-2640 x191.