Methodist Healthcare Ministries Broadband Strategic Plan
Methodist Healthcare Ministries
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas engaged HR&A to launch an innovative digital equity program supporting device distribution, digital skills building, and public benefit adoption across the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Border Region, San Antonio, and Austin. Our RFP design, evaluation process, and organizational capacity building resulted in $21.7 million committed to 20 organizations over three years, directly impacting more than 100,000 residents.
MHM needed a strategic framework to deploy substantial resources toward closing the digital divide in South Texas, particularly among underserved populations including low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and those with limited English proficiency. HR&A designed and managed a comprehensive Digital Equity RFP that attracted an unprecedented number of qualified respondents. We led the evaluation process and developed funding recommendations that balanced geographic coverage, population impact, and programmatic approach to maximize community benefit across MHM’s 74-county service region.
Beyond grantmaking, HR&A helped MHM build sustainable infrastructure by supporting the hiring of two new digital equity team members and designing a cohort management program enabling grantees to collaborate and share best practices. Our holistic evaluation plan provides tools to measure impact metrics and digital equity outcomes. MHM’s program has gained national recognition, with the organization invited to present their approach as a best practice at the 2024 National Digital Inclusion Alliance conference.
