MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission has voted to temporarily add a position to help residents as broadband lands in more parts of the county.
Commissioner Sean Sikora said a digital navigator will tentatively start on July 1 and be available for members of the community who need help understand how to connect to and use the internet.
“Make that individual available to help people as we’re connecting areas in the county and people are getting connected with the internet to help people along,” Sikora said.
The digital navigator will be based in the library and will also go to area senior centers and public events where people might be who need assistance. Navigators provide general support and can help with information about topics like healthcare and even for specific populations, including people with disabilities, higher education students, and caregivers to K-12 students.
“That person would be based in the library and would work in the library so they would be at the location,” Sikora said. “They would be there for people who come in and need help, and they would do outreach at the senior centers.”
The position will be funded for one year with $50,000 taken from interest earned on American Rescue Plan grants given to the county during the pandemic.
“We’re using funding we got from interest we’ve earned on our American Rescue Plan dollars, so it’s not a hit to the general fund,” Sikora said.
The first year will be evaluated to determine effectiveness and if the program will continue. Sikora said if the digital navigator program does continue, it would be included in the library levy on the next renewal.
“We didn’t want this to be a county employee, and we didn’t want it to be a library employee, so we’re running it through the Morgantown Area Partnership (MAP),” Sikora said. “So, MAP will handle the hiring, and this will be a benefits-eligible position.”
Commission President Tom Bloom said the library is already a community hub for many, and this will be the ideal location.
“I think this is a perfect addition to what you’re doing (the library), and it just expands more of what the library is in this community,” Bloom said. “I think it’s a perfect fit.”