HARRISBURG – Sen. Cris Dush, R-Brookville, announced that the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority has awarded grant funding for the purchase of 100 laptops for McKean County, where affordability has been identified as a significant barrier to digital broadband access and expansion.

“Connecting underserved, rural households, schools and local governments with the technology and resources they need to successfully bridge the digital divide is absolutely critical for making our entire region more appealing for future development and family-sustaining job creation,” said Dush. “Best of all, these laptop devices will be distributed to provide affordable and reliable online access to education, workforce training and other vital community services — all at no cost to local residents.”

The grant was funded through the federally backed ARPA Digital Connectivity Technology Program and was part of a $20 million competitive grant process to Pennsylvania public-facing community anchor institutions, including libraries, schools, units of local government, workforce training organizations, and other non-profits.