Digital Inclusion

Jan 19, 2023

IEI Receives $1.2M Digital Equity Grant for Broadband Expansion and Digital Inclusion Efforts

NCDIT announced that IEI is one of eight state government partners to receive a Digital Equity Grant for broadband expansion and digital inclusion efforts in North Carolina.

Jan 12, 2023

New $6.3M Grant Will Help Institute for Emerging Issues, Partners Expand Broadband Access in 12 Appalachian States

IEI is one of 12 local partners that will work with Connect Humanity to help 50 communities in 12 Appalachian states connect all residents with affordable, high-speed broadband.

A speaker stands at a podium to address a room of people.

Oct 26, 2022

Planning for Digital Inclusion in North Carolina

Samantha Graham reflects on her first two months as BAND-NC Director and the work ahead to getting a digital inclusion plan in every county in NC.

Sep 19, 2022

IEI Welcomes New Policy and Program Manager Samantha Graham

Get to know IEI's new Policy and Program Manager Samantha Graham in this brief Q&A!

A large sheet of paper with a digital inclusion brain mapping activity written on it

Sep 19, 2022

Institute for Emerging Issues Receives $250,000 to Continue Digital Inclusion Efforts in Rural NC Communities

IEI has received a $250,000 grant from the John M. Belk Endowment to support the institute’s BAND-NC program, which works with communities across the state to bridge North Carolina’s digital divide.

A woman and man stand at the front of a conference room, giving a powerpoint presentation to a group of people seated at tables

Aug 15, 2022

Digital Inclusion Planning Begins in NC’s High Country

North Carolina’s High Country is the latest region in the state embarking on the journey to close the digital divide thanks to IEI's Building a New Digital Economy (BAND-NC) program.

Groups of people sit around tables in the community room of a public library

May 25, 2022

Southwestern Commission leads WNC in digital inclusion planning process

The Southwestern Commission held two events May 16-17 to kick off the digital inclusion planning process for seven Western North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

May 13, 2022

Foothills Regional Commission launches digital inclusion planning process

The Foothills Regional Commission held a virtual event on April 28 to mark the start of its process to create digital inclusion plans for four Western NC counties: Cleveland, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford.

Apr 27, 2022

Institute for Emerging Issues announces next round of BAND-NC grant recipients, supporting digital equity across NC

Twelve North Carolina county-level initiatives will each receive a $5,000 grant to help bridge the digital divide in their communities.

Dec 14, 2021

Dogwood Health Trust pledges $2 million to support the Institute for Emerging Issues’ effort to increase digital literacy and access across North Carolina.

The Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at NC State University today announced it has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Dogwood Health Trust in support of the Building a New Digital Economy in NC (BAND-NC) program.