Gov. Kelly announces $2.3M for Digital Skills Programs to drive workforce readiness
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – A $2.3 million investment in digital skills training and workforce readiness programs will target nearly 50,000 Kansans, Governor Laura Kelly announced on Wednesday, June 4.
Through the Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans (DOCK) program, the Kansas Office of Broadband Development will partner with 13 organizations to ensure residents can maximize what the availability of high-speed internet across the state has to offer.
According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, the DOCK program expands access to necessary digital tools and opportunities to upskill the workforce.
Examples of what various organizations intend to deliver in their communities include:
- Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas will create a pilot digital literacy program to address the area’s documented need for digital opportunity and extend access to critical digital education.
- Tree Top Security in northwest Kansas will provide cybersecurity and digital skills training to small businesses, empowering them to protect data, prevent cyber threats, and enhance their operations using modern digital tools.
- Eagle Nest’s “Digital Skills Launching Pad” will offer digital literacy training to justice-involved women, survivors of domestic violence, and women facing generational poverty in Cowley County. Training will focus on online safety, job readiness, and internet navigation skills.
- The Liberal Area Coalition for Families in southwest Kansas will educate parents on digital safety to prepare children for a digital world. Parents will gain crucial skills to monitor their children’s online activities and ensure safe internet use, promoting better family communication and involvement in their children’s education.
The Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) received applications from non/for-profit organizations, municipalities, universities, and more. The awards will impact all Kansas counties, expanding digital and job readiness opportunities statewide.
To view the DOCK awardees or to learn more about the DOCK program, click here.
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