City of Milwaukee

Connecting Milwaukee Communities

In recognition of the importance of computer access in public spaces, the City of Milwaukee proposes to enhance broadband capacity and availability at libraries, public housing sites, and a senior center. The Connecting Milwaukee Communities project intends to reach economically vulnerable populations, such as at-risk children, seniors, Spanish speakers, and low-income families by focusing its efforts on areas in the city with higher poverty and unemployment rates. Upgraded centers will provide opportunities for underserved residents to connect with the full benefits of broadband access, including computer training, online education, job skill development, personal money management skills, and access to online health information. The project also plans to deploy self-serve broadband kiosks in targeted housing projects and provide a one-stop website for users to obtain information about public computer center classes and locations, online courses, and other relevant community information.

Total Award:

$2,479,742

Project Fact Sheet

Recipient Project Website

BTOP In Action

Two students use loaner laptops at one of the project’s upgraded centers

By early December 2011, the City of Milwaukee’s Connecting Milwaukee Communities project opened a new public computer center and upgraded eight centers across the city. These centers are part of an expansion to increase broadband capacity and availability at sites that have historically been unable to adequately serve local residents. These upgraded centers now offer patrons new computers, training, and technology specialists to help them develop their digital literacy skills.

BTOP funds have allowed the project to deploy more than 240 laptops, serving an average of 5,902 users per week. Along with these computers, the centers provide a variety of classes covering topics such as computer basics, Internet fundamentals, word processing and spreadsheet skills, Internet search fundamentals, and online safety. The centers offer career building assistance with resume creation, job searches, and interview preparation.

The new public computer center at the Olga Village Senior Center opened on September 29, 2011. This center boasts 12 new workstations and is customized to accommodate elderly residents who are learning digital literacy skills through computer basics classes and individual trainer assistance.

By the end of the project, the City of Milwaukee will distribute approximately 270 new workstations and train as many as 10,000 city residents. To meet the needs of the city’s diverse population, the City is partnering with the Milwaukee Public Library, the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, and the United Community Center – Olga Village to provide training classes in both English and Spanish at various sites. The City of Milwaukee has also been able to hire six Library Technology Specialists, responsible for teaching classes and providing one-on-one computer help.

Last updated: January 5, 2012

Reports and Documents

Reports to NTIA: