The fund supports Technology Literacy & Access and Civic Engagement projects that reach technology underserved communities, thereby increasing, "digital inclusion." The City's goals are to:

Technology Literacy and Access:

• Empower technology underserved communities so that all residents have the technology skills necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services;
• Increase technology literacy;
• Increase access to computers, the Internet, and other information technology; and
• Increase the creation of relevant online content.

Civic Engagement

• Engage individuals not usually involved in the civic process; and
• Increase residents' use of technology for civic engagement and community building by integrating technology tools into activities to increase awareness of community issues, to increase community problem solving and to increase interaction with government.

Background

The Technology Matching Fund (the TMF) program, established in 1997, supports community's efforts to close the digital divide and encourage a technology-healthy city. The program provides grants where the community's contribution of volunteer labor, materials, professional services, or cash is "matched" by the Technology Matching Fund. This program is administered by the Community Technology Program of the City's Department of Information Technology and is funded with cable franchise fees.

The Fund honors the memory of Bill Wright, a Central District community leader who embodied our goal of creating digital opportunity for all and using technology tools to build strong neighborhoods.