How Columbus is helping residents get tech savvy
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Smart Columbus wants to give free digital skills training to 10,000 Central Ohioans by the end of 2027 through a new program announced Thursday.
Why it matters: The nonprofit estimates 75% of jobs will require advanced digital skills by 2030. The employment gap is widening for people without them.
Threat level: Around 80,000 households in the region also lack internet access, and thousands more don't have a device beyond a smartphone.
What they're doing: To close the digital divide, Smart Columbus is launching the ConnectUs Digital Skills Hub.
- The collaboration is between 16 community partners that will train residents and give them a free large-screen device, such as a laptop or tablet, upon completion.
- Outreach will focus on those facing housing insecurity, older adults, veterans, people with disabilities, students and new Americans.
Flashback: "This problem became unignorable during the pandemic," Smart Columbus executive director Jordan Davis tells Axios. "So many families weren't able to connect to online learning or telehealth or virtual work."
- That observation prompted a pilot in 2022 that has since helped 1,000 people with training and free devices.
The latest: The full-scale program features courses taught by leaders of the community partners, including Goodwill, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus State Community College, Jewish Family Services and the New Directions Career Center.
- The hope is to tailor the program to the specific needs of their respective communities. For example, immigrants may have different challenges with tech than a group of older adults.
What they're saying: Tech-savvy residents may find tasks like applying for a job or accessing an online benefits portal simple, but Davis emphasizes the difference such skills could make to others.
- "People take the basics for granted. Exposing people to the fact that it's okay to acknowledge where you're at and get help is a big part of this awareness journey," she says.
- Classes are approachable, because "there's a lot of shame that people carry not knowing how to work technology," she adds.
What's next: The program may be out of the "pilot" stage, but Davis says it will continue to evolve and grow.
How to sign up: Visit a program partner in-person or check the website for info and eligibility.