City of Philadelphia Office of Innovation & Technology – PHENND https://phennd.org We are a network of over 25 colleges and universities that strengthens service learning in Philadelphia, connecting academics with community involvement. Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:29:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Volunteers Needed: Power Up Philly – Community Tech Expo – Mar 28 https://phennd.org/update/volunteers-needed-power-up-philly-community-tech-expo-mar-28/ Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:29:31 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=87448 The Office of Mayor Parker and the Office of Innovation and Technology is excited to host the Power Up Philly – Community Tech Expo on Saturday, March 28, 2026 on Temple University’s campus!

This day dedicated to digital empowerment will provide 1000+ pre-registered Philadelphians with laptops, digital skills classes and support, exhibitors, speakers, and on-site activations!

Volunteers are needed to help support the operations of this exciting event! Volunteers will help support:

  • Laptop set-up and handout
  • Welcome and Check-In
  • Tech Support
  • Kid’s Zone
  • Exhibitors and Community Members
  • And more!

Come join the fun! Interested? Complete our Power Up Tech Corps application form  to participate as a volunteer! Once complete, we will be in touch to relay next steps and other pertinent info. This is a great chance to get involved in digital inclusion and make an impact!

Have questions? Reach out to digital.equity@phila.gov.

]]> Digital Literacy Alliance Summer 2024 Grant Round – Jun 28 https://phennd.org/update/digital-literacy-alliance-summer-2024-grant-round-jun-28/ Mon, 03 Jun 2024 17:39:06 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=83837 We are pleased to announce that the Digital Literacy Alliance (DLA) Summer 2024 Grant Round is officially open!

The DLA funds innovative digital inclusion programs. This year’s grant cycle is focused on digital inclusion programs that activate resident volunteers, peer leadership, and/or community ambassador models.

Grants will be awarded for two years with a maximum award of $40,000.

Organizations applying for this grant must meet eligibility requirements. To learn more, view the grant guidelines. 

The Letter of Intent application is being accepted online. The application deadline for the Letter of Intent is June 28, 2024 at 5 p.m.

]]> PCs for People to Provide Low-Cost Devices and Tech Support for Eligible Philadelphians https://phennd.org/update/pcs-for-people-to-provide-low-cost-devices-and-tech-support-for-eligible-philadelphians/ Fri, 31 Mar 2023 17:19:19 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=81281 The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation and Technology and the Digital Literacy Alliance (DLA) has announced its partnership with PCs for People, the selected entity in its most recent RFP as part of the Philadelphia City Fund. PCs for People will provide low-cost devices and tech support for eligible Philadelphians.  

Through its partnership with the DLA, PCs for People will offer no-cost and low-cost computers online and in-store for eligible customers starting at $30 for a desktop and $50 for a laptop computer in-store. Eligible customers can also subscribe to pay-per-month wireless internet access for $15/month (or free with the federal Affordable Connectivity Program benefit). 

There is more to come, but a few key takeaways are:

  1. Corporations or Organizations can support the work through device donations
  2. Organizations can partner to get computers in bulk for clients
  3. Residents can go online now and order devices to be shipped directly to them
  4. A storefront location will be opening soon and will provide tech support to the community. Stay tuned!
  5. For more information, click here.
]]> Request for Proposals: Affordable Connectivity Program – Jan 9 https://phennd.org/update/request-for-proposals-affordable-connectivity-program-jan-9/ Thu, 15 Dec 2022 00:52:29 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=80526 The FCC has posted a Request for Proposals for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). There are three grants:

  1. The ACP Outreach Grant
  2. Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program Outreach Grant
  3. ACP Navigator Pilot Program Outreach Grant

We encourage you to learn more about these opportunities here. There are also webinars and factsheets on this site.

Applications are due to the FCC on January 9, 2023.

Several organizations have already reached out to us here in the Office of Innovation & Techn ology (OIT) about this RFP. If you are considering applying, we encourage you to connect with our team before the holidays. You are welcome to email Juliet Fink Yates directly at Juliet.fink-yates@phila.gov to set up a brief meeting to discuss your proposal. Our goal is to ensure that Philadelphia can receive funding for this opportunity and we are happy to provide guidance if we can.

]]> Help Update the Digital Literacy Asset Map for PA https://phennd.org/update/79644/ Mon, 15 Aug 2022 14:42:35 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=79644 Pennsylvania is working on developing a Digital Literacy Plan for the State and part of that plan is to do an asset map of all the digital literacy providers across the state.

Below is the map that they have started to develop and the link to add or update your digital literacy program:

Map

Edits/Additions

Please take a few minutes to make sure your organization is listed or appears on the map if you are providing digital literacy classes! If it is not, please use the Edit/Additions link to add your organization. They are looking to update the map ASAP, so we encourage you to do it over the next day or two.

]]> Pre-proposal Webinars: City of Philadelphia’s RFP for Computer Refurbishing and Community Tech Support – Aug 2 or 3 https://phennd.org/update/pre-proposal-webinars-city-of-philadelphias-rfp-for-computer-refurbishing-and-community-tech-support-aug-2-or-3/ Wed, 27 Jul 2022 14:32:18 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=79505 We will be hosting two pre-proposal webinars for the City of Philadelphia’s RFP for Computer Refurbishing and Community Tech Support.

Registration is required. You can register for one of the pre-proposal webinars here:

  • August 2, 2022 at 10:30am EST
  • August 3, 2022 at 1:00pm EST

About the RFP: The City of Philadelphia Office of Innovation and Technology (“OIT”) and the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia (the “Fund”) seek an entity to coordinate a city-wide computer recycling, refurbishing and community tech support effort. The goal of this effort is to create a sustainable model for providing free and low-cost devices and city-wide technical support to residents in need to extend the lifespan of residents’ devices. You can find the full RFP here.

Questions about this RFP should be submitted to digital.equity@phila.gov by August 15, 2022. 

Deadline to submit a proposal is September 16th, 2022.

]]> Philadelphia’s Digital Navigator Report and Factsheet https://phennd.org/update/philadelphias-digital-navigator-report-and-factsheet/ Wed, 08 Dec 2021 00:25:13 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=77801 Philadelphia’s Digital Literacy Alliance launched a pilot project in 2020 to create a Digital Navigator program in Philadelphia. This report highlights the outcomes of the first year of Philadelphia’s Digital Navigator program, shares best practices, and provides information about other noteworthy Digital Navigator programs across the country.

Access the “Philadelphia Digital Navigator Report and Factsheet 2021” here.

]]> RFP Posted for PHLConnectED School-Based Digital Supports Grants – Jan 12 https://phennd.org/update/rfp-posted-for-phlconnected-school-based-digital-supports-grants-jan-12/ Tue, 07 Dec 2021 22:44:21 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=77798 We are formerly announcing a new grant round for PHLConnectED to support school-based digital initiatives for pre-K-12 caregivers!

PHLConnectED is launching a grant cycle to foster and develop creative school-based digital support initiatives for pre-K-12 caregivers. This opportunity aims to better support pre-K-12 student households by providing funding for local education agencies, school/pre-K providers, school-based networks, and/or partnerships between schools/pre-K providers and community-based organizations to offer school-specific group and 1:1 digital support services to caregivers.

The deadline to submit a proposal is Wednesday, January 12th, 2022.

The grant opportunity is posted here.

Find the RFP and budget template documents on the PHLConnectED webpage here.

We will be hosting two virtual information sessions on this grant opportunity. The first one will take place Thursday, December 9th from 2 to 3 PM. Please see the grant guidelines for login information.

]]> City of Phila. Open Data Dashboard https://phennd.org/update/city-of-phila-open-data-dashboard/ Thu, 18 Nov 2021 22:40:10 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=77671 In 2020, the City conducted a survey for feedback on the open data program. Users indicated wanting an easier way to track new data releases, as well as be able to see when a previously released dataset has been updated. To address this need, as well as provide an easy way for open data users to track our progress on other key measures, the City built the Open Data Dashboard.
The dashboard highlights key metrics raised in the survey including:
  • the number of datasets automated to ensure fresh data;
  • the number of new datasets released (“Completed”);
  • the number of datasets with a visualization;
  • the datasets that we are in the process of releasing (“In Progress”) and those next up for release (“Queued”), as well as those that are backlogged
  • metrics related to datasets identified by the Sunlight Foundation as high-value
  • and metrics on the use of the City’s open data in the U.S. and beyond.
The City included several filters so that you can explore by year, department, release type or search for a specific dataset. We hope you find this dashboard useful and easy to use. Please spread the word about this tool by sharing it with others, and retweeting the announcement. For more information, you can read a blogpost describing the goals of the dashboard.
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