Governor Polis Visits High Plains Library District

July 13, 2020

(Greeley – July, 2020) Governor Polis visited the High Plains Library District on Saturday, July 11, for a tour of the District Support Services. The Governor received a firsthand look at the work HPLD is doing to decrease the digital divide and ensure all patrons have reliable access to essential digital services during the ongoing health crisis. The tour included MiFi devices and Wi-Fi units that will be deployed throughout the community. The High Plains Library District Foundation received $21,000 from the Colorado COVID Relief Fund to support these efforts.

The fund was established as part of Governor Polis’s Help Colorado Now initiative to provide aid to Colorado communities and organizations impacted by the recent outbreak of COVID-19. Funds from the grant will be used to purchase mobile Wi-Fi access points. These Wi-Fi units will be deployed to communities in the District service area identified to have a high need for internet access and essential technologies. These units will be mobile and can be relocated as the needs of the community change.

The High Plains Library District is dedicated to building digitally inclusive communities by providing equal access to the internet and other essential technologies for purposes such as e-government, entrepreneurship, legal needs, education opportunities, workforce development, and health and wellness. This is especially important during the ongoing health crisis, as many patrons are required to access school, work, telehealth visits, and more online.

“We are thrilled to have the support of the State Relief Fund for this important service,” said HPLD Foundation Director Abby Yeagle. “We are looking forward to expanding our efforts to tackle the digital divide in our community.”