~ The City of St. Louis has been recognized as a 2025 Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). This prestigious national program acknowledges the city's efforts to bridge the digital divide through initiatives such as free community WiFi and digital learning labs.

Mayor Cara Spencer expressed her pride in the city's achievement, stating, "I'm proud of our St. Louis team for earning this recognition for our city and for doing great work for years to make digital tools available to all St. Louisans." She also emphasized the impact of these efforts, saying that they "make a real difference, opening doors to opportunity and making St. Louisans' lives easier."

The City of St. Louis has made closing the digital divide a priority through its St. Louis Digital Inclusion Action Plan, which falls under the Economic Justice Action Plan and is being implemented by the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC). The SLDC's core initiative of providing Digital Equity aligns with their Economic Empowerment pillar.

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According to interim SLDC President and CEO Otis Williams, investing in digital equity programs like community WiFi allows residents, businesses, and community organizations to participate in the 21st-century economy.

St. Louis joins 59 other municipal, county, and regional governments across the US in being named a 2025 Digital Trailblazer by NDIA. The city was specifically recognized as one of 34 Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, which is considered the highest honor awarded by NDIA. These communities have been commended for deeply integrating digital inclusion throughout their government and leading the way in innovation.

In today's increasingly connected society, access to affordable high-speed internet, devices, and digital skills training is crucial not only for participation but also for finding greater opportunities to thrive. As stated by NDIA, these trailblazers serve as models for other local governments to aspire to as they build their own digital inclusion ecosystems.

The City of St. Louis achieved Trailblazer status by prioritizing digital inclusion for its residents through various initiatives, including the creation of the St. Louis Digital Inclusion Action Plan in partnership with the SLDC. They have also launched free community WiFi in seven parks and along the Dr. Martin Luther King Drive corridor, with plans to expand coverage to the Gateway Mall area downtown.

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Additionally, the city has established Learning Labs and Digital Navigators at three recreation centers and the Northside Economic Empowerment Center, providing more St. Louisans with access to technical support and digital literacy classes. The Learn2Tech program also offers qualified students a laptop and WiFi service for a year after completing the course.

All of these programs and more can be found on the #ConnectSTL coalition portal at connect-stl.org.

NDIA's Digital Inclusion Trailblazers have been setting the national standard for excellent digital inclusion work since 2016. Each applicant's materials are thoroughly verified for accuracy, assessed for community impact, and made available on NDIA's website through an interactive map and searchable database. By openly sharing these materials, NDIA aims to provide community advocates and local governments with resources to continue learning, connect with other trailblazing communities, and plan their own digital inclusion solutions.

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