December 13, 2023
Today, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) named the City of South Bend as a 2023 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer, recognizing the city’s efforts to close the digital divide for a second consecutive year.
“Digital access helps connect us to opportunities and reach our full potential,” said Mayor James Mueller. “Alongside our partners, we are proud to receive this recognition for our work to expand digital access to all members of our community.”
South Bend was also among one of the cities that received NDIA’s first “Visionary Trailblazer” designation, recognizing communities that have deeply integrated digital inclusion throughout their government and are leading the way in digital inclusion innovation.
Trailblazers provide models for other local governments to aspire to as communities build digital inclusion ecosystems. South Bend achieved Trailblazer status by prioritizing digital inclusion for residents of their communities through:
- Providing the free public South Bend Open Wi-Fi network at over 140 locations across the City
- Creating the City’s first Digital Equity Roadmap
- Launching an outreach program to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program with $500k in federal funding
- Convening the South Bend Connectivity Coalition to catalyze digital equity partnerships
To learn more about how the City is working with local partners to close the digital divide, visit southbendin.gov/digitalequity.