The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced grants totaling $1.2 million in support of digital engagement efforts to build a more inclusive community in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The funding will support efforts in digital inclusion, immersive technology, and smart city projects. Recipients include the Foundation for the Carolinas, which was awarded $458,000 in support of digital literacy efforts for students and parents in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County's Central District 1; the City of Charlotte, which will receive $245,000 in support of a Smart City Fellow who will work to increase equity and engagement in creating a framework for Charlotte's smart city strategies over the next three to five years; and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, which was awarded $239,871 to develop a digital platform that uses visual data to put residents at the center of the decision-making process in the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

"Immersive technologies and smart city strategies directly play a role in building a more informed and equitable Charlotte," said Charles Thomas, director of the foundation's Charlotte program. "By using tech to experience and learn about our city's history, for example, individuals can become more engaged and more committed to Charlotte's future. Likewise, smart city strategies ensure that city services effectively serve Charlotte’s residents and...that everyone is connected [to] a key part of our work."