Teal background with a wave-like line pattern across the center

Grants and Grantees

Investing in Organizations Driving Community Impact

Cook County is investing in community-driven solutions to close the digital divide. We are supporting organizations and libraries that advance digital equity across the county through two key initiatives: the IMPACT Small Grants Program and the Digital Navigator Network.

  • The IMPACT Small Grants Program provides funding and storytelling support to local nonprofits, local media, and libraries. These grants help expand internet access, boost digital literacy, and amplify community voices to drive lasting change.
  • The Digital Navigator Network, launched in partnership with Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), reaffirms libraries as trusted hubs of digital support and positions Suburban Cook County libraries as institutional digital navigators. The program will support libraries in expanding Wi-Fi access, providing devices, and offering training, so residents can confidently connect, learn, and thrive.

Together, these programs highlight how investments can create measurable impact and empower residents with the tools, skills, and confidence to fully participate in today’s digital world.

How Grants Are Driving Community Change

Two women sit together as one fills out a form while the other provides assistance

HANA Center’s Digital Skills Program Empowers Korean Immigrants in the Northwest Suburbs

HANA Center’s Tech to Connect and Thrive program empowers Korean immigrants in Cook County with hands-on digital skills training—taught entirely in Korean. From smartphone basics to job search tools, the program helps seniors stay connected, independent, and informed.

Smiling older couple sits together looking at a document in front of a laptop

Forest Park Partnership Builds Digital Confidence Through Community, Storytelling, and Resilience

A unique partnership is helping older adults in Forest Park gain digital skills and confidence through hands-on classes, community storytelling, and access to devices. By spotlighting real-life learner journeys, the program is fostering connection, resilience, and a stronger, more digitally inclusive community.

Man wearing a virtual reality headset

ROC ED’s AR Project Connects Southland Residents to Local History and Digital Literacy

ROC ED is blending digital inclusion with local history through an immersive AR/VR project that brings Cook County’s Underground Railroad sites to life. Designed for underserved Southland communities, the initiative builds digital skills while celebrating Black heritage—empowering residents to learn, connect, and thrive through emerging technology.