PRESS RELEASE

The City of Long Beach’s Technology and Innovation Department, in collaboration with the Economic Development Department, is launching efforts for a Digital Inclusion Roadmap that will address the digital divide and promote digital equity and inclusion in Long Beach.

“Having access to high-speed and quality Internet services is essential for completing day-to-day tasks such as applying for a job or accessing health information,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The groundwork of the Digital Inclusion Roadmap will ensure that everyone in Long Beach has equitable access and use of digital inclusion resources and services.”

Last year, the Digital Inclusion Initiative was approved by the entire City Council. The Digital Inclusion Roadmap development process, which is part of the Digital Inclusion Initiative, is supported by a fund transfer of $40,000 offset by First Council District one-time District Priority Funds, approved by the City Council on March 19, 2019.

With the funds, City staff have contracted with two consulting firms to assist with stakeholder engagement and community outreach and engagement. The foundation of the Roadmap will include collaborating with the community and cross-sector partners to uplift communities most in need during the development and implementation phases. The project will continue through July 2020.

Digital Inclusion Week

In alignment with the Roadmap development, the City is celebrating Digital Inclusion Week from October 7 to 11.

The City defines digital inclusion through an equity lens, which means proactively ensuring everyone has equitable access and use of digital literacy training, the Internet, technology devices and other digital resources. The City provides free public Wi-Fi, computer literacy trainings and public access PCs through the Long Beach Public Library. For more information, please visit: http://www.longbeach.gov/library/.

Digital Inclusion Week efforts include in-person grassroots community outreach and a social media engagement campaign to educate communities about the digital inclusion resources available in Long Beach and about the City’s 2020 Census efforts.

About the City of Long Beach

Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.