Closing the digital divide: Local initiative honored for its inclusion and broadband access program

HUNTSVILLE – A local public-private partnership that helps foster digital access to underserved has been recognized for its work by a national organization.

The GFiber Digital Inclusion Fund, a joint effort between the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville and GFiber, received the Public-Private Partnership of the Year award from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors. The fund and other Community Broadband and Digital Equity Award recipients will be formally recognized at next month’s NATOA annual conference in New Orleans.

The awards celebrate innovative projects by governments, businesses, and communities nationwide dedicated to providing affordable, high-speed, and reliable internet access.

Launched in 2018, the fund is a joint effort between the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville and GFiber.

“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition by NATOA for the GFiber Digital Inclusion Fund,” said John-Michael Cortez, GFiber’s head of Government and Community Affairs for the South. “Ensuring everyone has access to reliable, high speed internet and the digital skills necessary to thrive requires a community-wide commitment.

“Since launching in 2018 in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, the Fund has invested in dozens of amazing local organizations working to close the digital divide and foster greater opportunity across the Huntsville community.”

The national accolade coincides with the announcement of the 2025 grant recipients from the GFiber Digital Inclusion Fund, which is investing in the community.

A total of $45,000 has been awarded to seven organizations, fostering digital literacy, access, and workforce readiness for underserved populations:

• Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama: A $7,500 grant to equip a new Club opening in August 2025 with computers, providing digital learning tools, homework assistance, STEM activities, and career exploration resources for up to 2,000 youth annually in North Huntsville.
• His Way Recovery Center: A $5,000 grant to enhance recovery programming by providing residents with access to technology, along with coaching and structured training to build digital and professional skills for employment, including resume writing, digital communication, and interview preparation.
• Huntsville City Schools: A $7,500 grant to implement a hotspot lending program for students without reliable home internet, providing content-filtered hotspots compatible with school-issued devices to ensure safe, education-focused use and continuous learning beyond the classroom.
• Huntsville Community Drumline: A $5,000 grant to continue its iD.R.U.M. (Digital Responsible Unstoppable Musicians) Phase 4 initiative by upgrading its studio and adding a new recording space, expanding equitable access to music and video production and digital literacy training for youth and adults.
• Huntsville Learning Center: A $5,000 grant to a establish a new podcast studio, offering underserved students access to modern technology for academic development, creative expression, and career exploration, while building digital literacy, communication, and workforce skills.
• National Children’s Advocacy Center: A $7,500 grant to increase digital access for young families in its child abuse prevention programming by providing tablets with mobile internet and a desktop computer, supporting access to essential services and facilitating parenting education and skill development.
• Rose of Sharon: A $7,500 grant to establish an eight-station computer lab within its holistic care model, supporting the Workforce Re-entry Employment and STEM Computer Lab for Huntsville’s homeless and underserved populations with digital literacy, job readiness, and educational resources.

“These initiatives, along with national recognition from NATOA, underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in our increasingly digital world,” said Melissa Thompson, CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville. “The investment in digital inclusion projects is crucial for empowering individuals, fostering economic growth, and building stronger, more connected communities.”