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WARREN -- City officials, the Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority, the Trumbull Community Action Program and the Oak Hill Collaborative of Youngstown are launching an initiative to eliminate the "digital divide" and bring more broadband access to Trumbull County residents.
During a recent survey, the city of Warren ranked as the fifth-least connected city in Ohio in terms of the public having access to the internet.
An event to help launch the initiative to bring more internet access will be at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at TCAP, 1230 Palmyra Road SE.
"The goal of this initiative is to transform the city of Warren and Trumbull County from one of the least connected to one of the most connected in Ohio," said Warren Mayor Doug Franklin.
Free computer education classes and workshops, deeply discounted refurbished computers, and assistance in signups for low-cost internet programs will be offered at this facility and various sites across the county.
"We've been very successful with this model and are very excited about working with great partners in Warren and Trumbull County," Pat Kerrigan, executive director of the Oak Hill Collaborative, said.
Kerrigan recently submitted an application to Trumbull County commissioners seeking $95,000 in American Rescue Plan funding from the county for the connectivity initiative.
Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa agreed that this initiative will have important implications for economic development in the county, and he and Commissioner Niki Frenchko both said the county board will act on the application as soon as they get the green light from the county's American Rescue Plan attorney from the Baker, Dublikar, Beck, Wiley & Matthews firm in North Canton.
The attorney "needs to tell us what category of funds we can use it under and give us agenda language," Frenchko said.
The Oak Hill Collaborative is a 501(c3) nonprofit organization, and Kerrigan said he wants the ARP funding to expand his "Digital Advantage Initiative" into Trumbull County.
In the ARP request submitted to the Trumbull commissioners' office, Kerrigan explained the initiative started in Mahoning County involving qualified needy households already receiving health care or specialty benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) or Social Security payments as well as those families receiving free or reduced school lunches. These qualified households are eligible for a $30 discount on their monthly internet connection bill.
Kerrigan estimates that about 2,500 Trumbull County households or about 6,000 people per year may qualify for the monthly discount as well as the education and other computer-related assistance.
Also assisting in the initiative, Kerrigan stated, are the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, Greenboard IT, Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership and some churches in the county.
Kerrigan hopes TCAP in Warren can become the permanent base of operations for the initiative in Trumbull County.
In giving reasons why the project should qualify for ARP funding from the county, Kerrigan responded: "This project is eligible for several reasons. First, improved internet access -- which requires adequate broadband connectivity, affordable internet service, improved computer knowledge and skills and more economical computer hardware -- is a significant factor combatting negative economic impact due to the (COVID-19) pandemic, especially for low- to moderate-income residents."
gvogrin@tribtoday.com