24 Councils on Aging (COAs) representing 65 municipalities were awarded the Enhancing Digital Literacy for Older Adults Grant. Funded by American Rescue Plan Act Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), the grant program is designed to assist COAs in purchasing devices, software, or broadband for older adults; and/or providing training and support for older adults to enhance their digital literacy.

Awardees include distinctive approaches to digital literacy training and support, including partnership models (with schools, libraries, and technology training vendors) and various types of engagement (peer support, intergenerational support, one-on-one in-home assistance, group classes). The awardees span almost all counties, many represent rural communities and Gateway Cities, and some of the awardees plan to offer curriculum and support in languages other than English, including Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, and Spanish.

Congratulations to the awardees from COAs in the following cities and towns (some with partner COAs in surrounding communities:

Athol, Fairhaven, North Andover, Barnstable, Franklin, North Attleboro, Berlin, Georgetown, Norton, Bernardston, Greenfield, Oak Bluffs, Burlington, Holyoke, Pittsfield, Chelsea, Medford, Salem, Chesterfield, Montague, Sudbury, Deerfield, Norfolk, Ware.

The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative looks forward to working with and supporting the awardees.