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Grantees tell council how Technology Matching Fund advances digital equity
Summary
Seattle IT and the Department of Neighborhoods showcased the Technology Matching Fund and 2026 grantees; the city is investing $455,000 in TMF this year with additional private matching, and community organizations described projects that deliver devices, connectivity and training to underserved residents.
The Governance and Utilities Committee heard directly from Technology Matching Fund (TMF) grantees on July 29 about how city grants support digital-equity work across Seattle.
Seattle IT staff and the Department of Neighborhoods said the city will invest $455,000 in TMF for 2026, supplemented by corporate partners (Comcast $60,000, T‑Mobile $15,000, Verizon $5,000). Mira Jo (Seattle IT digital equity adviser) and Jenny Crooks (Department of Neighborhoods) described cross-department outreach and a selection process that prioritized projects in communities with higher racial and social-equity index scores.
Grantees at the committee table and on panels described a range of projects: Asian Counseling & Referral Service provides three-level digital-literacy courses; Creation Culture runs paid graphic-design mentorship for youth; Per Scholas (Perscolas) trains adults for IT careers and is launching an AI-enabled IT support program; Solid Ground described upgrades to Wi‑Fi infrastructure that would bring reliable internet to roughly 240 residents in two residential buildings and community centers; Local Connectivity Lab, Unloop, Via Comunitaria and others explained how devices, door-to-door outreach, community networks and bilingual training help seniors, refugees, formerly incarcerated people and other underserved groups access essential services.
Council members praised the presentations, asked follow-up questions about reach and sustainability, and invited a group photo to highlight the program's community impact. Staff said TMF is a long-standing city program (since 1998) that has awarded over $9 million to community organizations and leverages grantee matching to expand impact.
