PHILADELPHIA, PA — Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) announced a $2.5 million investment aimed at expanding digital access and economic opportunity across rural America, partnering with two nonprofits that focus on broadband adoption and community-level training.
The funding supports Lead for America’s American Connection Corps and Partners for Rural Impact, both of which deploy digital navigators—local residents trained to help underserved communities get online, operate devices, and build essential digital skills. Comcast said the initiative is part of Project UP, the company’s $1 billion program designed to increase internet connectivity and digital readiness nationwide.
The new grants will help expand digital navigation programs in nine states, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Vermont, and West Virginia. More than 24 navigators are expected to be placed in rural communities as part of the effort.
Dalila Wilson-Scott, Comcast’s executive vice president and chief impact and inclusion officer, said insufficient digital access remains a serious barrier to economic mobility. She noted that gaps in skills and connectivity can slow or stall growth across entire regions.
The Urban Institute has found that rural counties with higher broadband adoption experienced more substantial economic gains, including far stronger business growth and higher per-capita income. According to the research cited by Comcast, expanded broadband access can boost household earnings by as much as $500 per year.
Taylor Stuckert, CEO of Lead for America, said the partnership will allow the organization to expand digital literacy projects and help more residents in rural communities connect to online opportunities. The American Connection Corps focuses on recruiting and retaining leaders in their home communities to improve local access to technology.
Partners for Rural Impact plans to use part of the funding to build a digital portal that will provide training materials, funding information, and data resources to rural leaders. PRI CEO Dreama Gentry said rural communities are often overlooked in discussions about growth, noting that limited access to modern digital infrastructure can cut residents off from jobs, training, and essential services.
Comcast says its high-speed Xfinity network currently reaches more than 5.2 million rural households across 952 counties, and the company’s expanded partnerships are designed to support broader adoption and digital skill-building in areas still lagging behind the digital transition.
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