--- title: "Dogwood Health Trust Announces 10 Collaboratives Working to Expand High-Speed Internet Access and Increase Digital Skills Across Western North Carolina - Dogwood Health Trust" canonicalUrl: "https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/dogwood-health-trust-announces-10-collaboratives-working-to-expand-high-speed-internet-access-and-increase-digital-skills-across-western-north-carolina/" excerpt: "Broader Digital Opportunities Initiative also focuses on research, infrastructure and advocacy Asheville, N.C. – Dogwood Health Trust today announces 10 local collaboratives as part of its Digital Opportunities Initiative. The collaboratives are one part of a larger, more than $7 million effort to make broadband internet available, affordable and useful for everyone in the 18 […]" metaDescription: "Learn about Dogwood’s 10 collaboratives to expand high-speed internet and digital skills in WNC. See the partners, strategies, and how to engage." datePublished: "2025-01-28T09:00:00-05:00" dateModified: "2025-01-28T09:50:11-05:00" --- - Dogwood Health Trust Announces 10 Collaboratives Working to Expand High-Speed Internet Access and Increase Digital Skills Across Western North Carolina - Dogwood Health Trust ** # Dogwood Health Trust Announces 10 Collaboratives Working to Expand High-Speed Internet Access and Increase Digital Skills Across Western North Carolina Share This Article ** ** ** ** ** [** January 28, 2025](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/2025/01/28/) *Broader Digital Opportunities Initiative also focuses on research, infrastructure and advocacy* Asheville, N.C.** – Dogwood Health Trust today announces 10 local collaboratives as part of its Digital Opportunities Initiative. The collaboratives are one part of a larger, more than $7 million effort to make broadband internet available, affordable and useful for everyone in the 18 counties and Qualla Boundary of Western North Carolina. Each was selected through an [RFP process](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/dht-announces-rfp-for-digital-opportunities-initiative/) in 2024. [Recent data](https://www.ntia.gov/blog/2022/switched-why-are-one-five-us-households-not-online) shows that one in five households nationally – which translates to approximately 80,000 households in Western North Carolina – lack internet connectivity, with many more facing limited access or missing critical digital skills and devices. This lack of access intensified following Hurricane Helene, which exposed the vulnerability of the region’s telecommunications infrastructure and highlighted how quickly communities without reliable digital access can become isolated. “Helene laid bare just how essential reliable internet access is for our communities’ health, wellbeing and safety,” said Dr. Susan Mims, president and CEO of Dogwood Health Trust. “This work isn’t just about internet access alone, it’s ultimately about connecting every one of our neighbors with community information, health care, education, job opportunities, housing or emergency services.” **Ten Collaboratives – Engaging Community Members to Find Solutions****The ten Digital Opportunities collaboratives will be led by the following organizations: Avery-Mitchell Yancey Regional Library, Five Point Center, Haywood County Government, Land of Sky Regional Council (leading two collaboratives), Nantahala Regional Library, Southwestern Community College, Through the Trees, Vecinos and West Marion Community Forum. These “hub” organizations are joined by nearly 50 other organizational community partners in this work across Western North Carolina and will expand that network further over the next 18 months and beyond. Each collaborative is building on digital equity plans developed by [NC State University’s Institute for Emerging Issues](https://iei.ncsu.edu/band-nc/) and will focus on implementing strategies like: - Providing access to devices and building skills to use them effectively (digital literacy) - Building sustainable community partnerships - Developing local leadership to champion digital inclusion for all residents - Supporting workforce development and economic growth through improved connectivity - Making high-speed internet available and affordable across the region Dogwood will host the collaboratives monthly as a learning cohort. Together they will develop skills for leading community efforts to implement their local ideas, strategies and solutions. A strong implementation focus will be reaching people and communities that often face the greatest barriers to digital access, including rural residents, older adults, people of color, individuals with disabilities, people who speak English as a second language, justice involved individuals, veterans and families with lower incomes. The cohort gathered for their first meeting on Jan. 16. Beyond the Collaboratives – Research, Infrastructure and Advocacy **In addition to the collaboratives, the Digital Opportunities Initiative will also focus on the following for the region: gathering research and insights on digital opportunities and challenges, attracting more capital for broadband infrastructure and deployment, and equipping decisionmakers with ideas and recommendations from local communities. “We’re taking a comprehensive and ground-up approach to helping every person in our region gain access to and have the confidence to use the internet each and every day in a manner that contributes to their wellbeing,” said Sarah Thompson, vice president for economic opportunity at Dogwood Health Trust. “Our collaborative partners are deeply embedded in their communities and uniquely positioned to move solutions forward. Through collaboration and action, we’ll build a stronger, healthier and more prosperous region.” ### **About Dogwood Health Trust **Dogwood Health Trust is a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust focuses on innovative and equitable ways to address the many factors that contribute to overall health and wellbeing, with a focus on housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. Dogwood Health Trust works to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions. To learn more, please visit [www.dht.org](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/). ## Press Contact **Erica Allison****828.358.4867 [[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b060e0f020a2b0d0419060a1f0204051b1945080406) Formation PR** 735 Locust St. Hendersonville, NC 28792 ## Media Requests * Name Email Message Send ![Full Color Dogwood Health Trust logo](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cropped-DHT-Logo22FullColor-1024x268.webp) #### Additional Press Coverage and News [View All](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/resources/news/) ## Related Posts [](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/dogwood-health-trust-releases-hurricane-helene-disaster-response-playbook/) ### [Dogwood Health Trust Releases Hurricane Helene Disaster Response Playbook](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/dogwood-health-trust-releases-hurricane-helene-disaster-response-playbook/) Dogwood Health Trust is sharing a new disaster response playbook that captures lessons learned from their experiences responding to Hurricane Helene in 2024. 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Announce Schedule for Two Community Meetings with Independent Monitor](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/dogwood-health-trust-and-affiliated-monitors-inc-announce-schedule/) Meetings will provide reporting updates, review findings from the 2024 reporting year and share details about the current process for the 2025 reporting year Asheville, [Read More »](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/dogwood-health-trust-and-affiliated-monitors-inc-announce-schedule/) February 10, 2026 [](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/dogwood-health-trust-announces-700k-in-emergency-funding/) ### [Dogwood Health Trust Announces $700K in Emergency Funding to Help Families in Western North Carolina Access Food During the Government Shutdown](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/dogwood-health-trust-announces-700k-in-emergency-funding/) Asheville, N.C. – Dogwood Health Trust announces $700K in emergency funding to help local communities purchase and distribute food to children and families in Western [Read More »](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/dogwood-health-trust-announces-700k-in-emergency-funding/) November 6, 2025 [](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/new-report-highlights-hurricane-helenes-impact-on-western-north-carolina-nonprofits-and-their-role-in-long-term-recovery/) ### [New Report Highlights Hurricane Helene’s Impact on Western North Carolina Nonprofits and Their Role in Long-term Recovery](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/new-report-highlights-hurricane-helenes-impact-on-western-north-carolina-nonprofits-and-their-role-in-long-term-recovery/) While Physical and Economic Recovery is Underway, Social and Emotional Challenges Remain Asheville, N.C. – A new report released today, Rising Above: Resilience and Recovery [Read More »](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/new-report-highlights-hurricane-helenes-impact-on-western-north-carolina-nonprofits-and-their-role-in-long-term-recovery/) September 26, 2025 [](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/two-vice-presidents-to-join-dogwood-health-trusts-community-investment-team/) ### [Two Vice Presidents to Join Dogwood Health Trust’s Community Investment Team](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/two-vice-presidents-to-join-dogwood-health-trusts-community-investment-team/) Asheville, N.C. – Dogwood Health Trust is pleased to announce that after an extensive national search, Jehan Benton-Clark and Jerry Kenney will both join its [Read More »](https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org/two-vice-presidents-to-join-dogwood-health-trusts-community-investment-team/) August 6, 2025 - [](#) - [](#) [](/) [](https://twitter.com/DogwoodWNC) [Facebook *](https://www.facebook.com/Dogwood-Health-Trust-212994690131241) [Instagram **](https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodwnc/) [Linkedin **](https://www.linkedin.com/company/dogwood-health-trust/) * [](https://twitter.com/DogwoodWNC) [Facebook *](https://www.facebook.com/Dogwood-Health-Trust-212994690131241) [Instagram **](https://www.instagram.com/dogwoodwnc/) [Linkedin **](https://www.linkedin.com/company/dogwood-health-trust/)