PRESS RELEASE

City of Long Beach 
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd, 
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov

12/15/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # 121523-2
Subject:
City of Long Beach Named One of Nation’s Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazers
Recognized by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance for Sixth Consecutive Year
Contact:
Estefanía Zavala
562.570.6793
Estefania.Zavala@longbeach.gov
Digital Equity and Economic Inclusion Officer
Technology and Innovation Department




Group of over 25 Long Beach digital inclusion community partners standing outside of Billie Jean King Main LibraryAbove: City of Long Beach Digital Inclusion Team and Digital Inclusion Community Partners from a May 2023 celebration. Digital Inclusion Community Partners are committed to advancing digital equity and inclusion in Long Beach.

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach was named a 2023 Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), according to a Dec. 13 announcement. The City was recognized for its continued efforts to close the digital divide. As the pandemic demonstrated, digital inclusion – access to affordable high-speed internet, devices and digital skills training – is essential to participating and thriving in today’s world. Recognizing the ongoing needs of the community, the City did not stop digital inclusion efforts at the end of the pandemic.

“Long Beach, a top digital city, is a leader in implementing equity-focused technology and innovation initiatives in local government,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We are proud to be recognized by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance for our consistent progress in digital inclusion.”

This year, Long Beach joins a record number of Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, with 47 total awardees representing municipal, county and regional governments paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the US. Trailblazers are defined by NDIA as communities that have deeply integrated digital inclusion throughout their government and are leading the way in digital inclusion innovation by providing models for other local governments to aspire to as communities build digital inclusion ecosystems.

Long Beach achieved Visionary Trailblazer status by prioritizing digital inclusion for residents through:

  • Deploying over $2.7 million in federal digital equity grant funding through the Digital Inclusion Initiative and under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and Long Beach Recovery Act (Recovery Act) in collaboration with 11 community partners.
  • Administering more than 2,400 free hotspots and 2,900 free computing devices to Long Beach residents most in need and to qualified businesses and nonprofits.
  • Re-launching the Digital Inclusion Resource Hotline in 2022 to connect residents and small businesses with information about free and low-cost digital inclusion resources and services. As of 2023, the Digital Inclusion Resource Hotline has received more than 2,600 inquiries.
  • Revising its Digital Inclusion Resource Guides, done in partnership with the United Cambodian Community and other community-based organizations, to provide residents with a comprehensive list of digital inclusion resources and services in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog.

“As technology advances faster than ever, I am proud of the Technology and Innovation Department’s continued dedication towards ensuring all residents have the tools and resources needed to thrive in the digital world,” said Lea Eriksen, Director of Technology and Innovation. “This six-time recognition by the NDIA speaks volumes to the City’s commitment towards addressing the digital divide in Long Beach despite ever-changing technology and the challenges that come with those changes.”

“Nonprofits, libraries, churches and other community organizations can’t reach digital equity on their own. For everyone to thrive in today’s digital world, we need all hands-on deck,” said Angela Siefer, NDIA executive director. “NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazers exemplify the key role local governments have in building connected communities for all of their residents.”

In June 2021, the Long Beach City Council approved the City's first Digital Inclusion Roadmap (Roadmap) to address the digital divide and advance digital equity and inclusion in Long Beach. The foundation of the Roadmap includes a vision statement, goals, objectives and strategies through a collective impact approach and equity lens in three focus areas: capacity, connectivity and technology.

More information about the City’s Digital Inclusion Initiative and Roadmap is available at longbeach.gov/digitalinclusion.

About the City of Long Beach 
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

To learn more about Technology and Innovation, visit: longbeach.gov/ti.

About National Digital Inclusion Alliance
NDIA advances digital equity by supporting community programs and equipping policymakers to act. Working collaboratively with more than 1,500 digital inclusion practitioners, NDIA advocates for equitable broadband access, tech devices, digital skills training, and tech support. For more information, visit digitalinclusion.org.