Mayor Walsh Announces Syracuse is Digital Inclusion Trailblazer
Published on February 06, 2025
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced Syracuse was named a 2024 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) for its efforts to close the digital divide. The distinction recognizes Syracuse’s commitment to digital inclusion – access to affordable high-speed internet, devices and digital skills training. Syracuse also received this national recognition in 2023.
“Closing the digital divide is essential to achieving the Syracuse Surge mission of inclusive growth in the New Economy, and critical to our vision to make Syracuse a growing city that embraces diversity and creates opportunity for all,” said Mayor Walsh. “This recognition affirms our commitment and progress toward turning that vision into a tangible reality.”
Trailblazers provide models for other local governments to aspire to as communities build digital inclusion ecosystems. Syracuse achieved Trailblazer status by prioritizing digital inclusion for residents of their communities through:
- Allocating dedicated staff and funding resources to digital inclusion programs and services;
- Implementing Surge LinkTM, a municipal broadband program to provide low-cost internet access to Syracuse residents (currently available in southside neighborhoods with expansion plans in 2025 to the northside and valley);
- Collaborating with our community centers to establish the Digital Empowerment Program, which provides digital literacy training and technical assistance to Syracuse residents across the city;
- Enabling residents to obtain free or low-cost laptops or tablets through participation in the Digital Empowerment Program or SurgeLinkTM;
- Employing data to inform digital equity policies.
“In the past decade, we’ve seen local governments step into the important role of building digital inclusion ecosystems, where organizations that provide services can connect and thrive,” said Angela Siefer, NDIA executive director. “NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazers celebrates these critical efforts to bring digital opportunities to all residents.”
NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazers has set the national standard for excellent digital inclusion work since 2016. Each applicant’s materials are verified for accuracy, assessed for community impact, and posted in an interactive map and searchable database on NDIA’s website. By sharing materials with open sourcing, NDIA provides community advocates and local governments ways to continue learning, connect with trailblazing peers, and plan their own digital inclusion solutions.
Syracuse joins 60 total awardees representing municipal, county, and regional governments paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the United States. Syracuse is the only New York municipality to be recognized.
About National Digital Inclusion Alliance
NDIA advances digital equity by supporting community programs and equipping policymakers to act. Working collaboratively with more than 1,900 digital inclusion practitioners, NDIA advocates for equitable broadband access, tech devices, digital skills training, and tech support. For more information, visit digitalinclusion.org.