Seattle City Council approved $430,000 in funding on Monday expected to make technology and skills training more accessible for more than 6,000 residents belonging to historically underserved groups.
The funds, delivered through the city’s Technology Matching Fund and Digital Equity initiative, were awarded to 15 community groups selected from a pool of 36 applicants. Each group represents local communities of minorities, immigrants, seniors, youth, or people with disabilities, meeting the mandate of an initiative that was formed in 1997 and has now funneled more than $4.2 million into more than 300 community technology projects. Notable differences in this year’s funding are the inclusion of four groups representing East African communities — like Horn of Africa Services — and a heavy overall focus on skills training.
