8 groups receive funding to advance digital literacy in Philadelphia

An effort to increase digital literacy in Philadelphia is getting a helping hand from some very large businesses. 

Eight groups working on everything from digital tablet training for seniors to teaching people how to use online tools to find a home or job received grants from the Digital Literacy Alliance.  

Contributing businesses want to make technology more accessible, said Stephanie Kosta of Comcast Corp.

“These types of programs really enter people into digital commerce, the cornerstone of pulling people out of poverty,” she said.

Mayor Jim Kenney said bridging the digital divide is crucial.

“The work that we do in technology innovation is really going to be the solution to our poverty problem in Philadelphia.   We can talk about manufacturing, which is important,” he said. “But unless our young folks and old folks and middle-age folks get involved in the innovation space and the technology space, we’re not going to move the needle.”

Verizon also is providing seed money for the project.