Partners
The Santa Barbara Digital Equity Coalition partners with community organizations, public agencies, and nonprofits to close the digital divide. These digital equity partners play a key role in expanding access, affordability, literacy, and capacity across the region.
Partnership Stories
ATT Project
As the fiscal sponsor of Santa Barbara County’s $497K Digital Equity Access to Technology Grant, the Santa Barbara Foundation collaborated with five DEC partners—American GI Forum, CommUnify, Community Partners in Caring, Family Service Agency, and the Independent Living Resource Center—to advance digital inclusion for aging adults and adults with disabilities. By providing training and essential tools, the Foundation empowered these organizations to help individuals access the internet and confidently use digital devices.
City of Goleta Digital Equity Project
With support from a grant by Central Coast Community Energy, the City of Goleta partnered with the Economic Development Collaborative, Broadband Consortium Pacific Coast, Women’s Economic Ventures, and American GI Forum to launch the Goleta Digital Equity Project. This collaborative effort delivered targeted digital literacy training, technical support, and computing devices to underserved residents and local small businesses.
Partners in Education and EDC Upskill
In a joint effort to close the digital divide, Partners in Education and the Economic Development Collaborative offered free six-week “Computer Basics: New to Tech” courses for adult learners. The program helped participants build essential digital skills—from using a computer and email to navigating the internet and video conferencing. To support continued learning, graduates received a free Chromebook upon completion.