Guam awarded $2.5M for digital upgrades at DRT and more

A $2.5 million digital grant will help, among other things, revamp the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation’s and the Division of Motor Vehicles’ websites to improve accessibility, add multilingual support, and streamline online services.
 

The funding is part of a nationwide effort to ensure all residents have access online resources, according to a press release from the office of the governor. The federal government allocated more than $369 million to advance digital skills and inclusion across the country. Of that, Guam was awarded more than $156 million through the BEAD program in June 2023, according to Melissa Bettis, director of the Office of Infrastructure Policy and Development.

The effort, she said, is to ensure people have access and the ability to access online resources for education, employment, health and other purposes. See her column in the December 2024 issue of the Journal at https://www.mbjguam.com/guam-reaches-crucial-step-bead-process-bridge-digital-divide.

The $2.5 million grant will also fund two other areas to help further that effort, according to the press release out of the governor’s office.

• mobile units to reach remote areas, ensuring increased community access to Real IDs and driver’s licenses; and 
• an accessible digital hub that offers digital training, resources, and support. This includes employing Digital Navigators who can teach residents to use the computer to apply for jobs and provide educational opportunities to persons with disabilities and other intersecting populations.
   

This award builds on Guam’s Digital Equity Plan.  Officials call the grant a “significant milestone,” noting that the grant unlocks substantial funding opportunities to enhance digital inclusion.

This latest award builds on previous grants, including a $2.1 million Digital Equity Capacity Grant received by Guam in late 2024. That funding will be instrumental in expanding digital services across the island, benefitting key community anchor institutions such as Guam's mayors’ offices, the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, and the Department of Youth Affairs. These initiatives have laid the groundwork for enhancing community access to technology and providing critical resources to underserved populations.

“This grant award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams at OIPD, DRT, and DISID. It is a significant investment in the future of Guam, providing critical resources to improve accessibility, support our most vulnerable populations, and build a more inclusive digital environment for everyone in our community,” said acting Gov. Joshua  Tenorio. mbj