Digital Equity Grants

Should applicants proposing both digital navigation and skill-building activities submit one application with a unified budget and narrative, or should we submit two separate applications, each with its own budget and narrative?  

Applicants wishing to implement both digital navigation and digital skills training activities should apply under one unified proposal. This accommodates budget and implementation elements that serve both activities and may result in cost savings to the project. 

Applicants should submit a single budget, though provide enough detail in the narrative so that reviewers understand the breakdown of the budget towards navigator or skills training activities. 

Applicants seeking funding for both digital navigation and digital skills training should check both projects under Question 12. When both projects are checked, questions 17 and 18 will show in the Submittable application and will be required for submission. Applicants should include elements for both projects in the remaining questions. 

Does the grant have any budget cost caps or limitations? How should applicants treat indirect costs in the budget template?  

Indirect costs (e.g., facility rentals) are eligible expenses and can be inserted in the “Other” budget category as well as described in the narrative.   

This grant does not have any cost caps associated with administrative, indirect, or other budget line items. The review team will assess whether proposed budget items are clear/descriptive and legal, costs are reasonably found in the market, and the proposed budget supports the project proposed.  

Applicants should consider the impact of administrative and indirect costs on the project’s ability to deliver services and the number of beneficiaries served. Both are important criteria in the scoring rubric that will impact a proposal’s score.  

If the County anticipates executing grant agreements in Fall 2025, what should we list as our project start date?  

Applicants may use a general start date (e.g., Month 1) or identify an anticipated start month (e.g., January). Either is acceptable. The County will not hold you to a specific start date proposed in the application as the actual date is dependent upon the County grant process. Grantees, however, will be required to execute and complete their project within one year of award. 

Should applicants use specific word choices related to equity and inclusion given the federal climate?  

Applicants should propose the strategy and use word choices that put forth the most compelling proposal that answers the questions in the application. Equity and inclusion remain important values of Arlington County. Federal changes do not change this grant opportunity.  

How do you recommend addressing questions that seem to require a response to several components within a 350-limit word count?  

Each question has various questions to provide an illustration into the types of information reviewers may look for to understand and score the proposal. We strongly encourage applicants to incorporate as many details as possible about the proposed design and other elements of the project while maintaining a concise writing style. Consider using bullets to convey information or use the Attachments section to upload information that may support your application.  

What level of specificity are you looking for in the budget request? For instance, if applicants request technology supplies, should we break down the various supplies into different line items? Or can we leave it as one line item, “technology supplies,” and describe the different types of things it would cover?

Applicants may group like items in the template categories. Each technology supply would not need to be a separate line item, though you may add line items to the budget template to the extent it supports the presentation of information. For broad categories like technology supplies, specificity is requested in the narrative column to document how the budget is derived (e.g., 10 laptops, $250). This will also allow reviewers to compare the budget request to the proposed services/program.

Are laptops and other computer equipment eligible expenses?

Yes! While this grant does not focus on funding large-scale device distribution activities or device refurbishment programs, laptops and other computer equipment needed to implement a project are eligible expenses that may be incorporated into your budget. Be sure to note the need for computer equipment and how it will benefit beneficiaries and the overall project. In the budget template, describe the equipment (e.g., number of laptops and the cost per device). 

Are refreshments for skills trainings an eligible expense?

Yes. Refreshments are an allowable expense. Please note in the narrative column of the budget template a brief description and cost for the refreshments. Also incorporate into your other narratives that offering refreshments is part of your strategy and explain how it will help support the project.

Is this grant reimbursable?

The grant will likely be structured as a reimbursable grant, though alternative disbursement arrangements may be discussed during the development of the grant agreement.

If proposals involve a partnership in which another organization would receive part of the funding, should applicants structure the relationship as a prime recipient with a subcontract (passthrough), or do you prefer another model for managing collaborative applications? 

The grant agreement will likely be structured with the prime entity. Projects encompassing more than one partner should discuss partner roles and responsibilities in the narrative and provide supporting documentation in a letter of support or MOU documenting the partnership. The budget narrative should also identify passthrough dollars.  

If my organization applies, could I also serve as a partner/sub on another organization’s application?

Yes. Applicants are limited to one primary application per organization. However, they may serve as a partner/contractor on another application.

How do applicants manage finding facilities/space to facilitate programming?  

Applicants should connect with County departments, Arlington Public Schools, and community-based partners, particularly Digital Equity Coalition members, to explore facility needs.  

If the proposal is a part of a larger program that serves the Northern Virginia region or other geographies, will applicants need to break out the budget and impact numbers for Arlington specifically?

Yes. The grant should fund activities that benefit Arlington residents/businesses only; however, organizations may leverage staff or other resources that support other localities. Applicants should describe how they arrive at a budget line item. For example, if a Program Administrator covers several geographies but anticipates 15% of their time spent on administering the program proposed as part of this grant, then the applicant should note the total salary and percentage towards Arlington in the budget narrative.  

How do applicants ensure proposals are streamlined with other activities and do not duplicate County efforts?  

Applicants should include project partners with local experience. Grant reviewers may suggest refinements to encourage partnerships or streamline activities as part of this grant process. In addition, the Digital Equity Coalition will be an opportunity for applicants to build partnerships and promote streamlining. It is recommended that applicants attend upcoming coalition meetings to inform their proposal. Future meetings may also be used to refine implementation elements post-award.

Can I tweak my application once I have already submitted?  

Yes, however, staff must manually reopen your application. If you need to tweak your application, request reopening your application by emailing DigitalEquity@arlingtonva.us.  

What is the likelihood of future funding after this initial grant?  

The Digital Equity Initiative is funded with proceeds as part of a past real estate transaction. The funding was earmarked by the County Board to advance digital equity initiatives. Grants will likely be a cornerstone of the Initiative to promote community-driven solutions through partners who can deliver on-the-ground support to Arlington residents and businesses. Future grant cycles are likely, though future activities and grant structures will be assessed after this initial grant cycle.  

Who will review and score the proposals (e.g., County staff, community reviewers, Digital Equity Coalition members)?

The review team is made up of less than 10 County employees from various departments, including the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, the Department of Technology Services, the Department of Human Services, Libraries, Arlington Public Schools, and the County Manager’s Office. Some, but not all, of the reviewers are part of the Digital Equity Coalition.

Who are the current Digital Equity Coalition members?  

Digital Equity Coalition members are listed in the summary of the coalition's February Kickoff Meeting(PDF, 580KB).