Montgomery County’s digital equity and inclusion program, “Montgomery Connects,” which is operated by the County’s Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS), is continuing to distribute approximately 25,000 computers at no charge to eligible residents. The computers will be given out at events through June. Upcoming events include Tuesday, June 18, in Silver Spring; Thursday, June 20, in Germantown; and Friday, June 21, in at the East County Community Center in Silver Spring.
Montgomery Connects previously distributed more than half of the 60,000 free laptop computers it received from a Federal grant to help low-income families. This is the third grant program from the Federal government with the goal of assisting low-income families by providing them laptops.
“This is the final large-scale computer grant we expect to receive, and we want to ensure that everyone who cannot afford a Chromebook computer can get one through the Montgomery Connects program,” said TEBS Director Gail M. Roper.
Appointments open for registration to receive a laptop approximately two weeks prior to event dates. Appointments to receive a computer can be made by qualified residents at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/computer.
A Montgomery County library card number is required before making an appointment. Cards can be obtained here. Eligible residents must have an email address to make an appointment online at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/computer.
If a resident needs assistance, they should call the Marylander Online Help Hotline at 301-405-9810 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays. Help is available in English, Spanish and in other languages upon request.
There is a limit of one computer per resident and people must not have already received a computer from the County.
Eligible recipients must be Montgomery County residents but do not need to be U.S. citizens. Residents must make an appointment online, certify that they do not have access to a computer and appear in person with a photo ID and proof of address to pick up the computer. Everyone, including children, must appear in person to receive the computer.
Nonprofits who want to assist residents they serve in making arrangements to get computers can reach out to Montgomery Connects at montgomeryconnects@montgomerycountymd.gov to reserve blocks of appointments on specific dates for large enrollment events.
The schedule for upcoming computer distribution events:
- Tuesday, June 18. 3-7 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center, 1 Veterans Pl., Silver Spring
- Thursday, June 20. 4-8 p.m. Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Rd, Germantown
- Friday, June 21. 3-7 p.m. East County Community Center, 3310 Gateshead Manor Way., Silver Spring
- Saturday, June 22. 11-3 p.m. Executive Office Building (Cafeteria), 101 Monroe St., Rockville
- Tuesday, June 25. 3-7 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center, 1 Veterans Pl., Silver Spring
- Wednesday, June 26. 3-7 p.m. Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Rd., Silver Spring
- Friday, June 28. 3-7 p.m. Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg
- Saturday, June 29. 11-3 p.m. Executive Office Building (Cafeteria), 101 Monroe St., Rockville
