Comcast Supports Workforce Development in Scranton with $35K Grant and Laptop Donation to Outreach – Center for Community Resources
Comcast is helping to bridge the digital divide in Scranton and the greater Northeast Pennsylvania (NEPA) region through a grant award and laptop donation. The company is awarding $35,000 and 35 brand-new laptops for participants at Outreach – Center for Community Resources, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals overcome barriers to employment and build brighter futures.
Each laptop will come equipped with three months of complimentary Internet Essentials – a fast, affordable Internet service for low-income households.
“This support from Comcast allows us to expand our reach and deepen our impact,” said Lori Chaffers, President/CEO at Outreach. “With these resources, our case managers can provide more personalized, hands-on digital literacy training to individuals working hard to rebuild their lives and careers.”
“Workforce development and digital literacy programs like those provided by Outreach deliver real results, and we’re thankful for Comcast’s generous support,” Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti said. “By investing in Scranton through this program and new high-speed Internet opportunities, Comcast is helping to build a more connected future for our residents.”
Digital Skills That Open Doors
The grant supports the organization’s Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) Center. This program connects people with meaningful jobs by partnering with over 190 “Second-Chance” employers across NEPA. Participants receive one-on-one digital literacy training and learn essential skills such as resume writing, setting up email accounts, and applying for jobs online.
Over the next year, Outreach will serve at least 150 people with varying levels of digital literacy. The grant also funds advanced digital skills training for 30 staff members. This helps the organization deliver stronger support and training for digital literacy to participants.
“Comcast is proud to support Outreach and celebrate the incredible work they’re doing to empower Scranton residents,” said Ricky Frazier Jr., Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Keystone Region. “This partnership reflects our deep commitment to helping communities thrive, by providing cutting-edge connectivity and the skills to use it for a better future.”
Support for Outreach is made possible through Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion initiative to connect people to the Internet, provide digital opportunity, and build a future of unlimited possibilities.
Comcast Helps NEPA Get Connected
This donation builds on Comcast’s recent investments in the Scranton area. In March, the company announced the expansion of its network to connect more than 18,500 new homes and businesses across Lackawanna, Luzerne and Columbia Counties to reliable, high-speed internet. Comcast also expanded its network to more than 28,000 homes and businesses in Jermyn and Mayfield Boroughs and the City of Wilkes-Barre.
Plus, in Carbon, Schuylkill and additional parts of Luzerne County many residents are now experiencing Xfinity and Comcast Business for the first time through an ongoing network expansion will ultimately connect 6,900 residents and businesses.
Together, Comcast and Outreach are not just expanding access to technology. They’re opening doors to opportunity, empowerment, and lasting change across NEPA.
Photo credit: Calvert Media