City Promotes Digital Inclusion with GTOPs Funding

 

Mini Grant Pathway is Now Open

The City of Austin’s Grant for Technologies Opportunities Program (GTOPs) Mini grant pathway is now open. It was created to support smaller nonprofits working on a short-term digital inclusion project. The GTOPs Mini website contains additional information for potential applicants.   The GTOPs Mini pathway awards up to $50,000 a year for individual grants given out between $5,000 and $10,000 each. These grants are geared to promote digital equity in innovative ways. Applications are accepted through May 14.   “We’re inspired by the creative ways that local nonprofits have connected with and reached some of our most vulnerable communities with their GTOPs fueled digital equity projects,” said Rondella Hawkins, the City of Austin’s Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs Officer. “We’re committed to achieving digital equity and inclusion in Austin and our grant program helps us get closer to that goal.”   The GTOPs Mini is designed to support smaller Austin nonprofits – those with revenues under $1 million a year -- working on a short-term digital inclusion project. Half of the award amount is paid upfront with the second half awarded if agreed upon mid-term milestones are reached.   Applicants must be City vendors or have applied to start the process. Additional information along with grant writing tips is available at Grant for Technology Opportunities Program | AustinTexas.gov.   Combined GTOPs four distinct grant pathways – Core, Mini, Capacity and Connect -- provides up to $400,000 a year to fund novel new ways to help those in underserved communities participate more fully in our digital society. The four grant pathways are: GTOPs Core – awards up to $275,000 a year with grants awarded between $10,000 and $35,000 per organization. It is geared towards larger organizations working on a new program or intensive project. The Core pathway began accepting letters of interest in November, 2022. The final applications submitted in January are being reviewed now. GTOPs Mini – awards up to $50,000 a year with grants between $5,000 and $10,000 a year. It is designed to support smaller organizations working on a shorter-term digital inclusion project. The applications process begins April 1. GTOPs Capacity – a non-client-serving micro grant of $25,000 a year. It awards between $150 to $2,500 to help nonprofits build capacity by funding technology infrastructure, staff training and development opportunities. Interested nonprofits can begin applying May 1. GTOPs Connect – awards one $50,000 grant to an organization helping individuals and families eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefits. This support can be monthly internet cost support, device support, or support with signing up for the ACP program. June 23 is the first date that applications can be submitted. Since its inception in 2001, the City of Austin has awarded more than $3.7 million in matching GTOPs grants to 92 organizations. The GTOPs community investments were combined with other funds resulting in $14.7 million worth of unique initiatives and projects for expanding digital inclusion in Austin. These include workforce development programs; creative media training; computer labs; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming; and technology training programs for people with learning challenges.