RALEIGH, N.C. — NC State Extension announced that its NC Digital Futures Program has recieved $537,500 from Camber Foundation to expand digital skills education across Eastern North Carolina.

The investment will strengthen locally delivered digital skills training through county Extension offices, reaching residents in rural and underserved communities. Funds will support hands-on instruction, one-on-one assistance, and mobile classroom outreach that help individuals build practical skills to participate fully in today’s digital economy.

The NC Digital Futures Program delivers trusted, place-based education through Extension’s statewide county infrastructure. Programming focuses on foundational computer skills, safe internet use and cybersecurity awareness, workforce and job-search tools, access to telehealth and online services, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The approach emphasizes practical application in everyday life and work.

Camber Foundation’s support will enable the program to expand its reach in Eastern North Carolina, where broadband adoption and digital confidence lag behind statewide averages. By pairing connectivity with skills, the program helps residents convert access into opportunity, supporting workforce readiness, health access, and economic resilience.

Through this grant, Eastern North Carolina residents will also be able to enroll in the NC Work From Anywhere course for a reduced cost of $50, lowering barriers to participation in remote-work training that connects people to national job opportunities while allowing them to remain in their home communities.

“This investment accelerates our ability to meet people where they are and provide trusted, local support,” Rebecca Jinnette said. “Digital skills are essential infrastructure for modern life and work.”

The NC Digital Futures Program aligns with Extension’s long-standing mission to help communities adapt to new technologies and strengthen local economies. Through county-based educators and partnerships with libraries, workforce organizations, and community groups, the program ensures that digital inclusion translates into real outcomes.

Camber Foundation is an emerging foundation in North Carolina, which began its development in 2021. Built upon philanthropic resources with roots in Eastern North Carolina, this region of the state is a priority. Camber Foundation grants support nonprofit organizations serving community-driven solutions, focusing on the areas of health and wellness, education, and economic development.

For more information, visit communitydevelopment.ces.ncsu.edu/local-economic-development-programs/nc-digital-futures-program/. To learn more about the NC Work From Anywhere course, visit communitydevelopment.ces.ncsu.edu/work-from-anywhere/.

–Kenneth Sherin, N.C. State University

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