Alabama leaders are partnering with Birmingham-based nonprofit Ed Farm and Apple on a state-funded $16 million initiative to expand digital learning and workforce training in some of the state’s most rural communities.
The new Alabama Digital Education Network will create technology-focused “learning spaces” across the Black Belt and beyond, housed in community centers, libraries and schools.
The effort includes support from Apple and Alabama Power, which will provide curriculum, technology and broadband infrastructure.
“The launch of the Alabama Digital Education Network is a landmark moment for our state,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a written statement.
“Alabama is a national leader in both workforce development and broadband connectivity, and this initiative builds on that success by ensuring every student has access to the tools they need to succeed in our modern economy.”
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, called ADEN “much more than just a partnership with Ed Farm and Apple – it is a lifeline for west Alabama and will have a generational impact on the region.”
Ed Farm will lead the project using Apple Foundation Program, which helps learners develop digital skills, including coding and design, and solve community challenges.
“At Apple, we have always believed in the power of education to create opportunity for learners of all ages,” company Vice President Lisa Jackson said.
Ed Farm President Waymond Jackson said the partnership will allow the nonprofit to “expand and accelerate our mission to grow digitally fluent learners who are prepared for the future of work.”
“By scaling our proven model, we can create lasting economic opportunity across the Black Belt.”
The group, with Apple’s support, has already produced more than $1 million in wage gains over the past five years for Alabama workers through the Pathways to Tech program.
Alabama Power’s expansion of connectivity infrastructure is making the network possible.
“Since 2017, we’ve installed more than 2,000 miles of fiber,” company president and CEO Jeff Peoples said. “We’re grateful this infrastructure investment is helping ADEN advance workforce development and educational opportunities across rural Alabama.”
Alabama State University will host ADEN’s downtown Montgomery hub, the largest site in the network.
University President Quinton Ross said the partnership “marks yet another historic milestone in our mission to lead, serve, and uplift.”
“As a historically black college and university rooted in the heart of the Black Belt, we understand the vital role access to digital infrastructure plays in closing opportunity gaps and empowering communities.”
Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said the network will boost economic opportunity in his district and beyond.
“The launch of ADEN will be a transformative moment for the Black Belt with the potential to close long-standing gaps in access and ensure that every Alabamian has a fair shot at success in the modern workforce,” he said.
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