Google Fiber has always focused on helping communities take on the very real digital equity challenges they grapple with every day. The tech company has partnered with some incredible organizations over the past decade, working to make each of its Fiber cities more digitally inclusive places. The past year has magnified the importance of these efforts, with the pandemic and the related changes to daily lives having an outsized impact on disadvantaged communities.

As Google Fiber worked to adapt to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company came to realize many of its local non-profit partners, and the people they serve, were working overtime to do the same. Google Fiber adjusted its approach over the last year to help those organizations serve their communities’ most immediate needs, whether that was internet access for learning or work, devices to get online, unemployment, or food insecurity.

Given the enormous challenges of 2020, Google Fiber increased its community impact investments across the country. As they do every year, Google Fiber recently surveyed its non-profit partners about their experience and their impact. Here’s what they were able to achieve in the face of incredible adversity during 2020:

• Over 250,000 people participated in programming funded by Google Fiber

• Even with the challenges of the pandemic, partners provided 124,000 hours of digital literacy training both virtually and in person, and prepared more than 3,000 new volunteer trainers to pay this work forward

• Partners distributed over 8,500 devices to help people get online

• More than 700 job seekers gained employment through funded programming

• Entrepreneurship programs led to 43 new businesses

• More than 6,000 people connected new internet service in their homes

Additionally, Google Fiber supported organizations focused on racial justice and equity at a new level this year to help communities bridge not just the digital divide, but the other issues that divide our communities. A little bit more about who Google Fiber’s partners serve:

• 92% work with underrepresented groups

• 79% work with children or seniors

• 52% work with the LGBTQ+ community

• 51% work with individuals with disabilities

• 36% work with veterans

• 31% work with previously incarcerated individuals

Every day, these groups are making change happen in our communities, creating a more equitable, just, and connected place that will create a lasting and exponential difference to our cities and our world.