Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity—a division of the Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology—recently awarded a $2 million grant to Waves as part of the Administration’s efforts to improve internet access, adoption, and utilization in underserved neighborhoods in Baltimore.
Several Enterprise communities will benefit from new fiber-optic networks including Ednor Apartments 1, Ednor Apartments 2 , Metro Heights at Mondawmin and The Allendale. In addition, the grant support will be used to maintain continued connectivity for three additional Enterprise communities currently serviced by the organization including Ashland Commons, Hollins House and Park Heights Place.
Mayor Scott emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, “This grant program is more than just wires and signals—it’s about unlocking opportunity. By partnering with Waves, we’re ensuring residents with the greatest need have a chance to learn, connect, and build a better future for themselves and their families.”
The Connect Baltimore Broadband Grant Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and overseen by the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs, supports the development of gap and community networks to provide affordable, reliable internet access in neighborhoods most affected by the digital divide. This grant complements funding Waves has received from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Statewide Broadband, the West Baltimore Renaissance Foundation, and the France-Merrick Foundation.
Waves, a division of the nonprofit Digital Harbor Foundation, is an internet service provider based in Baltimore. Enterprise established a five-year partnership with the organization, formerly known as Project Waves, in 2022. The partnership helped to overcome connectivity barriers that often disproportionally affect seniors or households with low- or moderate-income. The digital divide and need for greater connectivity was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Connect Baltimore Broadband Grant Program is a vital component of the City’s Digital Inclusion Strategy and reinforces the mayoral commitment to Equitable Neighborhood Development. By focusing on neighborhoods that have historically faced barriers to internet access, the grant program helps ensure these communities can fully participate in the digital ecosystem. The deployment of fiber-optic infrastructure offers a sustainable, long-term connectivity solution, creating new pathways for education, economic mobility, and healthcare access for low-income households.