TOHONO O'ODHAM COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Economic development is frequently stalled in rural, tribal communities due to a lack of broadband access. According to the US Census Bureau Community Survey Report (Sept. 2017), the Tohono O'odham Nation (TON) is facing a “digital divide” compared to nearby communities, with a large proportion of residents lacking any access to broadband internet. In this Tohono O'odham Nation Computer Literacy and Workforce Development Pilot Program, TOCC will lead a consortium of local tribal governments and Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) including tribal utility provider, community organization, and technical consultants to directly address the lack of broadband access, connectivity, adoption and equity at TOCC and in the surrounding anchor communities on Tohono O’odham Nation. 

The proposed program is designed to:

1. Build the broadband and IT capacity of TOCC, a qualifying TCU and ANNH      institution;
2. Provide broadband education, awareness, training, access, equipment, and support to students and patrons at TOCC, senior citizen and low-income community members, and other MBEs, or 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in the anchor communities of TON;
3. Provide subsidized broadband access and equipment to qualified low-income/in-need students and community members;
4. Improve the use of broadband services by eligible MBEs and community-based organizations to deliver digital skills, digital inclusion, workforce      development programs, and technology services in the anchor communities of TON;
5. Stimulate the adoption and community use of broadband services for telehealth, remote learning, telework and entrepreneurship, community member and elder quality of life, economic growth, and job creation in the anchor communities of TON;
6. Build digital skills and IT workforce capacity in TOCC, anchor communities, and MBE and tax-exempt consortia members, including STEM/STEAM, coding, cybersecurity, technician, and work-based learning programs;
7. Assess the needs of TOCC and the surrounding anchor communities and conduct planning related to online education, digital inclusion, workforce, and digital skills development; and
8. Gather data and conduct evaluation of the digital inclusion, broadband access and adoption, and professional development programs funded by the grant to determine their effectiveness and document best practices.