Native Renewables Inc. is an Indigenous-led nonprofit working with non-grid solar power.
Courtesy image
The digital divide is a significant barrier to educational growth, economic development, and job creation in tribal communities. Nearly 90 percent of the Navajo and Hopi populations lack broadband access, limiting opportunities for remote skills training and education, as well as new business growth and entrepreneurial efforts. With a massive increase in federal funding to expand internet access, we now have a critical opportunity to close this digital divide.
Through our work, we’ve seen that communities face steep barriers accessing this funding, like complex application processes, high match amounts, and stringent eligibility requirements. That’s why local, Indigenous-led Native Renewables Inc. teamed up with the Just Transition Fund (JTF), a national philanthropic initiative that supports communities facing economic challenges as a result of changes in the coal industry.
Broadband Is Crucial
Native Renewables is a nonprofit focused on solving energy access with off-grid solar. We see firsthand the immense challenge that the lack of broadband access poses for the Navajo and Hopi Nations, especially as we work to build new career opportunities after the loss of jobs from the closure of the Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta Mine.
Without reliable internet, tribal businesses and entrepreneurs are held back from thriving and creating jobs in new career sectors. Moreover, tribal members are limited in their access to remote work and educational opportunities, which could offer quality careers in technology industries that are accessible from home.
Funding Is Available
The good news is federal funding — more than $100 billion — is available to close the digital divide. Communities can use these programs, some specific to tribal broadband, to fund the expansion of internet infrastructure and connect people with the monthly subsidies, devices, and skills they need to afford and use the connectivity. What’s more, the funding can help train people for new infrastructure construction and maintenance jobs.
However, there are significant barriers to accessing this funding, including complex grant applications and match requirements.
Teaming Up for Growth
The JTF’s Broadband Initiative provides grants and technical assistance to help remove these barriers organizations face and to equip them to apply for federal funds.
As part of this Broadband Initiative, Native Renewables is exploring how to expand their solar installation programming to provide internet access and create new job opportunities on the Navajo and Hopi Reservations. It is estimated that broadband funding passed in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act alone will create between 100,000 and 200,000 jobs, and we want to make sure some of those jobs are in the Navajo and Hopi Nations.
What's Possible
This is a historic moment in terms of available federal funding to close the digital divide that has been limiting our Native Nations for too long. We know that our Native communities have the solutions but have lacked sufficient funding to deploy them. Now is the time to ensure this funding goes to locally driven ideas that can be the building blocks for economic resiliency for generations to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHORSSuzanne Singer is the co-founder and executive director of Native Renewables. Heidi Binko is the co-founder and executive director of the Just Transition Fund.