Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazers 2025
Published on February 05, 2026
City of Pittsburgh Named One of Nation’s Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazers for 2025
Pittsburgh, PA – The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) named the City of Pittsburgh as a 2025 Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazer, recognizing the city’s efforts to close the digital divide. A delegation representing Pittsburgh was honored last evening at the NDIA’s Net Inclusion national conference in Chicago.
Pittsburgh was recognized as a Visionary Digital Trailblazer, the highest tier of the national Digital Inclusion Trailblazer status. The Pittsburgh delegation included representatives from groups in the Greater Pittsburgh Digital Inclusion Alliance (GPDIA), including the Department of Innovation & Performance, Computer Reach and Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Digital inclusion – access to affordable high-speed internet, devices, and digital skills training – is essential to participating and thriving in today’s world. Recognizing the ongoing needs of the community, the GPDIA continues in its efforts towards digital equity.
“I’d like to thank the Department of Innovation & Performance for the hard work they’ve put in and the great strides they’ve made over these past few years to close the digital divide,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor. “All of the partners in the GPDIA deserve this great recognition for creating a strategic plan to get all of our communities connected to internet, devices and the skills to use them.”
This year, over 58 cities were recognized as Digital Trailblazers, but Pittsburgh is one of only 37 Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazers paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the United States.
“Nonprofits, libraries, churches, and other community organizations can’t reach digital equity on their own. For everyone to thrive in today’s digital world, we need all hands on deck,” said Angela Siefer, NDIA executive director. “NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazer program exemplifies the key role of local governments in building digital opportunities for all of their residents.”
Trailblazers provide models for other local governments to aspire to as communities build digital inclusion ecosystems. The City of Pittsburgh achieved Trailblazer status by prioritizing digital inclusion for residents of their communities through:
- Championing data-driven community engagement and providing open data in partnership with the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center (WPRDC)
- Supporting community organizations that work in digital inclusion
- Providing opportunities for residents to develop skills, get tech support and obtain devices
- Promoting digital skills classes offered by partners like Goodwill of SWPA, Computer Reach and others
The Trailblazer program identifies seven categories of current best practices. Each applicant’s materials are verified for accuracy, assessed for community impact, and posted in an interactive map and searchable database on NDIA’s website. By sharing materials with open-sourcing, NDIA provides community advocates and local governments ways to continue learning, connect with trailblazing peers, and plan their own digital inclusion solutions.
About National Digital Inclusion Alliance: NDIA advances digital equity by supporting community programs and equipping policymakers to act. Working collaboratively with over 2000 affiliates, NDIA advocates for equitable broadband access, tech devices, digital skills training, and tech support. For more information, visit digitalinclusion.org.
Molly Onufer
Press Secretary
molly.onufer@pittsburghpa.gov