New Step Community Development Corporation

New Step Community Development and Inkster Housing Commission To Open First WiFi-Connected Comcast “Lift Zone” in Inkster Media Contact: Rob Ponto (cell) 734-260-8188 rob_ponto@cable.comcast.com Media Contact: Aaron Cooper (cell) 313-561-2892 Ext. 892 mailto:coopera@inksterhousing.org Lift Zones provide safe spaces to help students and families access the Internet for online school and digital skills building. PLYMOUTH – July 28, 2021 – Comcast announced today the opening of its first WiFi-connected “Lift Zone” in Inkster in partnership with New Step Community Development and the Inkster Housing Commission. The Lift Zone is located at 29150 Carlysle St. Inkster, Michigan 48141. Please contact Aaron Cooper for hours of operation. Lift Zones from Comcast provide free robust WiFi hotspots in safe spaces designed to help students access the internet, participate in distance learning and still complete work, especially in areas where there is a “digital divide”. Lift Zones also serve adults and can connect them to online adult education, job searches, healthcare information and public assistance. These sites offer access to hundreds of hours of digital skills content to help families and site coordinators navigate online learning. Low-income students face a great risk of being left behind, particularly during the summer months while school is out. Lift Zones are designed to help those students who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to connect to the internet at home. “This is a fantastic and critical partnership,” said Aaron Cooper, executive director of Inkster Housing Commission. “The ability for such an established company like Comcast to invest in the communities with the most need is very important—especially in the arena of low-income, affordable housing. Our residents have been the most disconnected, and the pandemic made this even more evident as so many of our families were affected disproportionately. “New Step is excited about our partnership with Comcast, and Inkster Housing. We believe the Lift Zone will not only provide access to a necessary and essential service as the internet, but it will empower our community. We are working with haste to ensure the children in our community have programming and a safe space that equips them to succeed.” Kristin Burney, Interim Executive Director. In March, Comcast announced it will invest $1 billion nationally over the next 10 years to help further close the digital divide and give even more low-income Americans the tools and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. Comcast’s $1 billion commitment includes investments in a number of critical areas, including: additional support for its ongoing Lift Zone initiative; new laptop and computer donations; grants for nonprofit community organizations to create opportunities for low-income Americans, particularly in media, technology and entrepreneurship; and continued investment in the company’s landmark Internet Essentials program. It is estimated that these new commitments will impact as many as 50 million Americans over the next 10 years. In 2021 alone, Comcast estimates students will be able to complete more than 25 million hours of remote learning lessons to further address the “homework gap” at the hundreds of Lift Zone locations that have already opened or will open soon. “A connection to the Internet is important to every family, whether they are learning from home, applying for jobs or scheduling medical appointments,” said Tim Collins, senior vice president of Comcast in Michigan. “Our partnership with the New Step Community Development will help those families who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to connect to the Internet and have access to these life-changing opportunities.” In the past 10 years, Internet Essentials has become the nation’s largest and most successful low-income Internet adoption program and has connected millions of people to the Internet. It offers households broadband Internet service for $9.95/month, the option to purchase a heavily subsidized computer and multiple opportunities for free digital literacy training. Additionally, the company increased speeds for all new and existing Internet Essentials customers at no additional cost. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About New Step Community Development New Step Community Development Corporation (NSCDC) was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the Inkster community and surrounding areas by the late Yvette Brock in 2016. NSCDC program and services focus on education, human services and local economic development. We have sponsored annual back to school backpack drives serving over 300 students in past years: customizing backpacks by grades k-college and an annual toy drive for low-income individuals and families in the Inkster and surrounding areas. NSCDC provides resources and education to improve quality of life with wraparound services including VITA tax preparation with IRS certified volunteers who completes tax returns for individuals with income below $57,000, partnerships with the Kidney Foundation, Starfish Family Services Western Wayne County Health and Wayne Metro. Our Need 2 Feed Monthly and Emergency Food Distribution Program serve over 1500 individuals and families. About Inkster Housing Commission The Inkster Housing Commission (IHC) was created in 1950 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). IHC is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor of Inkster, Michigan, to five-year staggered terms. IHRC’s mission is to provide decent, safe and affordable housing for lower-income persons. IHC administers two HUD programs, Public Housing and the Section 8 Housing Voucher Choice Program (HCVP). IHRC’s programs provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities. The HCVP Program provides rental assistance/subsidies and 751 Section 8 Vouchers for eligible families living in private housing. IHC provides housing and/or housing assistance to nearly 3,000 persons of whom approximately 1,500 are children under the age of 18.