The Central Nebraska Economic Development District (CNEDD) is participating in the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program. This program is one of three new broadband programs established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote digital inclusion and equity.

The intent of this program is to ensure that all individuals and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. This program provides federal funding for states to develop their own State Digital Equity Plan to, among other things, identify barriers to digital equity and outline specific measures aimed at addressing those barriers.

The vision for the Nebraska Digital Equity PLan is to ensure that Nebraskans have access to affordable, quality broadband and the skills to utilize digital technologies. One of the working goals for our state is to identify the technological needs of seniors and determine what barriers Senior Centers face in addressing digital equity needs.

A meeting will be held at the Callaway Senior Center on March 1 to present information on this program. Carla Kimball with CNEDD, along with a representative from Great Plains Communications and Callaway Economic Development Director Amber Harrison will be present for the meeting.

A potluck dinner will begin at noon, followed by the business meeting at 12:30 p.m. All senior residents of Callaway and the surrounding area are invited and encouraged to attend.