By Ryan Duey

Marysville Public Library, Marysville Chamber & Main Street, and Blue Valley Technologies secured a $69,453 grant for a digital literacy program. Governor Laura Kelly announced the grant, part of $2.8 million awarded to 15 Kansas organizations through the Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans (DOCK) program. The initiative aims to enhance digital skills for residents, especially among low-income and elderly populations.

Mandy Cook, the library director, emphasized the program’s goal to increase community comfort with technology through classes at various skill levels, facilitated by tech specialists Lynn Kracht and Jerry Horton. The library has acquired 12 laptops for the classes. Additionally, the grant supports business community training in cybersecurity and website development, featuring a digital marketing course.

Angie Armstrong of BVT highlighted the positive impact of digital literacy on quality of life, emphasizing the partnership’s potential. The DOCK program aims to equip Kansans with essential digital tools to drive innovation and compete globally.