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Board approves $25,000 Danville Regional Foundation grant for community computer access; extension to manage distribution
Summary
The board approved a $25,000 Community Computer Access Initiative grant to expand digital access in Caswell County. Cooperative Extension will act as fiscal agent; program aims to train 70 households and provide Chromebooks (~$200 each) upon training completion.
Caswell County commissioners approved a $25,000 Community Computer Access Initiative grant from the Danville Regional Foundation during their Aug. 18 meeting and authorized use of Cooperative Extension as the fiscal agent.
County staff said the grant is reimbursement-based and intended to expand digital access and skills so more residents can pursue work and stay connected. The county will match funds through the Piedmont Triad Regional Council. Staff described program elements that include outreach, training and laptop purchases; the current plan aims to train about 70 households and provide one Chromebook per household on successful completion of training.
Travis, identified in the meeting as the county's extension/digital-skills agent, told commissioners the training will focus primarily on Google products and include opportunities for home-based business certificates. He said program organizers plan to run courses throughout the county at different times and locations to reach residents in multiple quadrants. Program signup will be managed via Eventbrite, and participants generally will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis, with residency verification required.
Device cost estimates discussed during the meeting put Chromebooks at approximately $200 per device. The grant language allows use of leftover funds to provide a short-term coworking membership at CoSquare to participants if funds remain after device purchases.
Because the grant award would exceed the board's $10,000 off-budget spending limit, the board voted to suspend its rules for this meeting by two-thirds vote and then approved the budget amendment and acceptance of the grant the same evening. Commissioner Smith moved to suspend the rules; Commissioner Totten seconded. The suspension passed unanimously by raised hands. Commissioner Smith then moved to approve the $25,000 expenditure; Commissioner Ingram seconded and the motion carried.
Staff said final program dates, outreach materials and Eventbrite registration will be posted once the county finalizes the funding allocation.
