ROCKVILLE, MD — Goodwill Industries International (GII) was recently awarded a $498,593 grant from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that will help provide internet access to communities in need. This grant is part of the FCC’s $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that offers discounted broadband service to low-income households.
This funding will benefit seven Goodwill organizations across the U.S., enabling them to extend their reach to individuals residing in low-income households. The participating Goodwill organizations will use the funds to provide support to these families, facilitating their enrollment into the ACP and offering additional Goodwill services they may benefit from.
Assisting these households with internet access empowers individuals to enroll in classes and job training programs, ultimately paving the way for them to secure meaningful employment. This initiative aligns seamlessly with Goodwill’s mission of strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.
The Goodwill communities that will receive funds include:
- Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut, Inc. (Bridgeport)
- Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc. (Canton)
- Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area (TN)
- Palmetto Goodwill (North Charleston, SC)
- Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, Inc. (Winston-Salem)
- Goodwill Industries of Northeast Texas, Inc. (Sherman)
- Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region (Tacoma, WA)
Qualifying low-income households may receive a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service through the ACP. Households on qualifying tribal lands may receive discounts up to $75 per month. A one-time discount of up to $100 towards the purchase of a laptop, desktop or tablet from a participating provider is also available.
These efforts are part of an infrastructure project, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. View the grant information released by the FCC. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number is 32.011.
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ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill works to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by strengthening communities, building bridges to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their potential through learning and the power of work.
For more than 120 years, Goodwill® organizations across North America have helped people find jobs, support their families and feel the satisfaction that comes from working. There are 155 local Goodwill organizations that assist people through a variety of employment placement services, job training programs and other community-based services. Thousands of people receive employment and other human services through Goodwill and, in 2022, they helped more than 2.1 million people build skills, access resources and advance careers.
Goodwill sells donated items in nearly 3,300 outlet and retail stores in the U.S. and Canada and online at shopgoodwill.com®, the first nonprofit internet auction site, and other online marketplaces. The revenue creates job placement and training programs to help people earn paychecks and build their careers.
For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, visit goodwill.org. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: GoodwillIntl. Register for our Legislative Action Center via advocate.goodwill.org.
