Setting the National Standard: City of Portland Named Digital Inclusion Trailblazer for 10th Consecutive Year

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) has named the City of Portland a 2025 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer, marking the tenth consecutive year the City has earned this distinguished recognition for leadership in advancing digital equity and closing the digital divide.

This milestone recognition reflects Portland's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all residents have meaningful access to affordable internet service, devices, digital skills training, and support services. Portland's achievements set a national standard for inclusive, community-centered digital equity solutions.

"In today's increasingly digital world, ensuring equitable access is essential to community well-being and opportunity," said Seema Gadh Kumar, Chief of Community Technology. "Being recognized for the tenth year in a row honors the work we've done with partners across the digital inclusion ecosystem and challenges us to continue innovating so all Portlanders can thrive in a connected society. This award is particularly meaningful for the City of Portland as we transition our inclusion efforts to a broader community development and economic mobility focus on which digital access is a fundamental component."

What This Recognition Means

The Trailblazer program by NDIA identifies local governments that demonstrate excellence in digital inclusion leadership, planning, and action - and that serve as replicable models for other communities. In 2025, a growing number of communities were honored as Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, offering an open resource of tools and practices that support digital equity nationwide.

Portland's decade of recognition underscores the City's ability to integrate digital inclusion into long-term strategic goals, policy development, and community partnerships.

Highlights of Portland's Digital Equity Work

Portland's work in the past few years furthers its vision of equitable opportunity and includes initiatives such as:

• Digital Skills and Inclusion Grants: Through the Digital Inclusion Fund, the City has supported culturally responsive digital skills programs helping Portlanders access critical tools for education, health, employment, and civic engagement toward furthering the objective of community development and economic mobility.
• Community Outreach and Engagement: Ongoing outreach efforts ensure residents know about affordable internet options, device access opportunities, and digital literacy training available throughout the City. It also provides residents the opportunity to inform and influence City programs.
• Advocating for Expanding State and Federal Programs: The City actively participates in advocacy at both State and Federal legislatures and regulatory bodies. Recently, the City participated in the creation and passage of Oregon House Bill 3148 which expanded Oregon Lifeline, a federal and state program that provides a monthly discount on phone or high-speed internet service. These efforts combined with citywide planning, data-driven decision-making, and sustained investment in digital inclusion, exemplify the kind of multi-sector collaboration NDIA's Trailblazers program encourages and celebrates.

About the National Digital Inclusion Alliance

NDIA advances digital equity by connecting practitioners, advocating for policy change, and supporting local solutions that ensure digital access, affordability, devices, and digital skills for all. The Digital Inclusion Trailblazers program provides communities with a platform to share best practices and uplift successful models of digital inclusion across the country.