Kansas City gigabit projects can snag up to $25K from Mozilla

January 26, 2016  |  Bobby Burch

Community members beta test a Gigabit Fund project at Chattanooga’s first Mini Maker Faire. (Photo by Jason Oswald)

The Mozilla Foundation is planning to empower Kansas City techies to improve their city.

The foundation — along with the National Science Foundation and US Ignite — announced Monday that it’s allocating $300,000 to civically-minded, gigabit pilot projects in Kansas City and Chattanooga, TN.

The Mozilla Gigabit Community Fund is now accepting applications from techies and educators in both cities to submit ideas. Applicants can be local companies, non-profits or other institutions interested in tapping Kansas City’ gigabit speeds to improve education and workforce development.

If selected, projects can receive funding between $5,000 and $25,000, in addition to ongoing support and mentoring from Mozilla. The projects must take place in Kansas City, but applicants can come from around the world.

To date, the Fund has supported the development of 17 pilot projects in Kansas City and Chattanooga. Past projects include improved first-responder equipment, a real-time water quality monitoring system and singing robots.

While limited in funding size, the fund has had a positive effect on the local community, Mozilla Gigabit City Lead Lindsey Frost said.

“From relatively small grants have come huge impacts, as these projects continue as yearlong courses in our schools or even as full-fledged gigabit tech startups,” Frost said in a release.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2016 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        The Nelle — a ‘third space’ for women and LGBTQ+ creatives — closing its doors Jan. 31

        By Tommy Felts | January 26, 2023

        Lauren Saks Merriman is proud of The Nelle HQ’s two years in the Crossroads Arts District, she said, recalling its impact as a genuine environment for empowered thought, inclusion and connection. “We set out to offer a safe space for inspiration and community,” said Merriman, founder of The Nelle. “And that’s exactly what we’ve accomplished.” …

        nbkc partners with Acorns as Kansas City bank deposits expanded fintech focus

        By Tommy Felts | January 25, 2023

        A move by nbkc bank to provide Banking as a Service (BaaS) solutions to Acorns — a leading saving and investing app — is part of a broader strategy to invest in fintech companies without bank charters, said Melissa Eggleston. “We see a lot of potential as fintechs are taking off around the country. These…

        2023 is about ‘going deeper’: Startups to Watch gathers founders from streetwear, tech to NFTs, Esports (Event Photos)

        By Tommy Felts | January 25, 2023

        Storytelling brings communities together, said Austin Barnes, as nearly 200 of the region’s corporate, small business and startup leaders gathered for Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2023 reception and awards presentation.  “Startups to Watch is an opportunity for Startland News to do what it does best — amplify the story of entrepreneurship…

        What’s in a name? KC filmmakers’ documentary short finds ‘Black joy,’ Sundance premiere in reclaiming a family name

        By Tommy Felts | January 25, 2023

        Names hold a person’s legacy and connect them to their past. Names are individualistic while also a representation of family units. Names are the first thing people own in the world, said Kansas City filmmakers Sharon Liese and Catherine Hoffman.  The duo came together to tell the complicated, yet joyous, story of the Parker family.…