Ed Farm Launches National Grant to Close the Digital Skills Divide

The Transform:ED Communities Challenge Grant offers a tailored suite of resources to bridge the divide, providing everything from Apple hardware—including iPads and Macs—to professional space design and workforce development programming. By partnering with industry leaders like Steelcase Learning and Smith System, the initiative seeks to overhaul physical classrooms and community centers into environments capable of supporting advanced training in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital fabrication.

Ed Farm president Waymond Jackson Jr. emphasized that the program is designed to fundamentally shift learner expectations by providing access to the tools of tomorrow. Selected applicants will gain access to Ed Farm’s core programming, which ranges from student-focused app development fellowships to long-term workforce training for adults. Sarah Herrlinger, senior director of Community Education Initiative at Apple, noted that the collaboration aims to ensure learners of all ages can pursue new career possibilities through better access to high-end technology.

Interested organizations must submit proposals that demonstrate clear community need, a strategy for long-term sustainability, and robust stakeholder engagement. Applications are currently open, with a submission deadline of September 10, 2026. The organization plans to announce the winning communities in October, marking a significant expansion of its mission to foster digital equity in regions historically affected by infrastructure underinvestment.