Over the first eight months of leading the Elevate Digital Collaborative, Southwestern Community College has made significant progress while working with its partners to reduce the digital divide within Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary.
It’s one of nine regional collaborative groups funded by Dogwood Health Trust through its Digital Opportunities Initiative.
Dogwood Health Trust gave each group $250,000 to develop and implement broadband accessibility projects, as well as $20,000 directly to each member organization to support participation in a year-long, learning-and-planning cohort.
SCC’s partners include the Southwestern Commission, RezHOPE Recovery and Consulting Services, the International Friendship Center and Jackson County Economic Development.
The Digital Opportunities Initiative began in Fall 2024 and was divided into two phases - planning and implementation. With Dogwood Health Trust’s recent infusion of $125,000, SCC and its partners begin the program’s second phase - working with regional healthcare providers and advocates to streamline their patient’s digital experiences. Solutions include establishing digital navigator or technology support programs, facilitating access to and training for telehealth, providing workforce digital literacy training, developing intergenerational mentorship models and exploring potential public-private broadband partnerships.
“The primary aim of the collaboratives is to equip residents with the necessary skills, devices and resources to fully leverage broadband for positive economic, health and educational outcomes. This multi-collaborative approach recognizes that different communities within our region possess unique strengths and needs,” said Sarah Thompson, Dogwood Health Trust’s Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Economic Opportunity.
“Simultaneously, the initiative fosters connections and facilitates collective learning and impact among the collaboratives, highlighting the necessity for a coordinated, regional approach to expanding broadband adoption and enhancing digital opportunities in Western North Carolina,” Thompson added.
Early in the collaborative process, Elevate Digital agreed to hire a consultant and project manager. After an initial search, the group hired local consultant TenBiz for its reputation, local connections and previous work in this focus area. TenBiz’s founder, Tonya Snider, offered extensive experience in broadband access and has been an advocate for organizational partnerships.
Snider’s responsibilities as facilitator include project branding and promotion, meeting organization, driving project momentum, developing the final strategic plan and assisting in its implementation. Snider is also working closely with Dogwood Health Trust to provide supplemental support to other collaboratives in these operational areas.
During the planning phase, Elevate Digital Collaborative hosted four public engagement sessions across the service area to grasp the firsthand challenges faced by residents and community service providers.
These community meetings made clear that telehealth is a priority, because telehealth is a universal challenge, and affects individuals across lines of age, class, gender and race. This groundwork also positions the region well to secure subsequent federal and state grants.
Lack of sufficient broadband access can be viewed as a national healthcare problem. Elevate Digital Collaborative will continue its broadband health initiative through Fall 2026 and will continue working with healthcare providers, community health advocates and key partners to leverage the region’s growing broadband access to address health care challenges that challenge the entire country.
“I’m pleased with the progress we’ve already made with the assistance of our partners,” said Dr. Don Tomas, SCC President. “The Elevate Digital Collaborative is a wonderful example of what can be done when we work with community organizations to address one of our region’s most-pressing needs.”
For more information about Southwestern Community College, explore this website, call 828.339.4394 or drop by your nearest SCC location.
For more information about the Dogwood Health Trust’s Elevate Digital Collaborative, visit https://tinyurl.com/6wz6eydp.
