Shutterstock/PopTika From technology initiatives to its endeavors in digital equity , collaboration is essential to how the city of Long Beach approaches IT work — and now, the latter is formalized in its new Digital Inclusion Implementation Plan. Digital equity has become a priority for local government since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and partnerships play a critical role . Collaboration can help government entities build capacity for a variety of IT areas. The city’s new digital inclusion plan, released last week, builds on its digital inclusion road map, a strategic plan created in June 2021 to consider, “How can we build on what we’ve already done?” according to Estefania Zavala, digital equity and economic inclusion officer in the Technology and Innovation Department. What has already been done is wide-ranging, including COVID-19 response programs that leveraged CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act funding to distribute Internet-enabled devices. Officials launched a digital inclusion hotline in 2020, which is still available today to help people navigate resources. And, because the city had been working on a digital inclusion initiative prior to the pandemic, Zavala said Long Beach was well positioned for the work made necessary by the pandemic; strong […]
