DigitalC announced that Cleveland City Council authorized a $4.35 million performance payment after the organization exceeded its 2025 targets for expanding broadband access and digital skills training across the city.
The authorization marks a major milestone for “The Cleveland Model,” a digital equity initiative combining public investment, nonprofit innovation, philanthropic support and community partnerships to close the digital divide at scale. The initiative is designed to expand broadband access, digital literacy and economic opportunity throughout Cleveland.
DigitalC launched its four-year citywide connectivity initiative in January 2024 as part of a broader effort led by the administration of Justin Bibb and Cleveland City Council using American Rescue Plan Act funding. The initiative was developed in response to longstanding connectivity challenges in Cleveland, which had previously ranked among the least-connected large cities in the United States according to analyses by Connect Your Community using U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data.
Under its performance-based contract with the City of Cleveland, DigitalC was required to add 4,700 new household internet subscriptions and provide digital adoption services to 10,000 residents during 2025. The City of Cleveland’s Bureau of Internal Audit verified 4,862 eligible new household subscriptions and confirmed 10,105 eligible digital adoption service records, surpassing both goals.
During a May 18 finance committee meeting, Cleveland City Council members reviewed the organization’s performance metrics and supporting data. Council President Blaine Griffin praised DigitalC’s progress and acknowledged the broad civic support behind the initiative. Councilman Kris Harsh said a visit to DigitalC’s MidTown Tech Hive with city staff confirmed the organization’s work and reporting.
Joshua Edmonds, chief executive officer of DigitalC, said the milestone validated Cleveland’s investment strategy and the partnerships supporting the initiative.
Since January 2024, DigitalC has connected more than 9,200 Cleveland homes through Canopy, Powered by DigitalC, representing more than 23,000 residents with access to high-speed home internet. The organization also said it has trained more than 20,000 residents in digital skills and delivered more than 26,000 digital skills sessions through Click, Powered by DigitalC.
DigitalC said its citywide network buildout was completed in less than 18 months, and Canopy service is now available throughout Cleveland neighborhoods. The organization added that leaders from civic, philanthropic and industry sectors outside Cleveland are now examining the initiative as a potential model for community-based broadband expansion and digital empowerment.
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“The data was presented in a very clear, understandable way, and we were able to confirm that all the work is being done as expected and as stated in the contract. I feel really good about this now and happy to vote in favor of this.”
Kris Harsh, Cleveland City Council Member
“This is more than a contract milestone. This is validation of Cleveland’s investment, DigitalC’s execution and the public, private and philanthropic partnership powering this work. We are grateful for the leadership of Mayor Bibb’s administration, Cleveland City Council, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, the Ohio Department of Development and a growing group of catalytic partners who understand that digital equity is essential civic infrastructure.”
“DigitalC is proud to be America’s fastest-growing community-based network. But this story is bigger than DigitalC. This is about what Cleveland chose to do differently. While many cities talked about the digital divide, Cleveland invested in solving it and becoming a fully digitally empowered city.”
Joshua Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer, DigitalC
