The El Paso Community Foundation (EPCF) is thrilled to announce that Marathon has awarded a $100,000 grant to Borderplex Connect in an effort close the digital divide in the community.

Borderplex Connect is a supporting organization of the El Paso Community Foundation, and supports a regional coalition of public, private, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to promoting digital inclusion in the Borderplex region. Through outreach, action and advocacy, Borderplex Connect currently serves El Paso (TX) and Doña Ana (NM) counties.

“Our partnership with Borderplex Connect, and this supporting investment for Project Overcome, reinforce our commitment to bringing broadband access to those who do not have high-speed internet connection. We hope that this will provide residents with significant resources to improve their quality of life and will empower them to make progress in our fast-paced world,” said V.J. Smith, Manager, CSR and Tribal Affairs, at Marathon.

Marathon does more than fuel the El Paso area. The company has a longstanding reputation for community engagement. In addition to the Borderplex Connect donation, Marathon has contributed over a million dollars in annual community investment funds to nonprofits in the El Paso region, including $125,000 in grants to the American Red Cross and approximately $375,000 in grants and in-kind sponsorship to key partners in education.

“Borderplex Connect is thrilled to accept the award from Marathon and apply these funds to Project Overcome,” said Andrea Tirres, CEO of Borderplex Connect. Project Overcome aims to offer reliable and affordable high-speed broadband home access to residents in Marathon’s targeted geographic area, which includes low-income and rural households.

“We know that internet connectivity in today’s world is a necessity,” said Eric Pearson, President and CEO of the El Paso Community Foundation. “Broadband improves all aspects of society, including the workforce, healthcare, education, public safety, and quality of life.”

What Borderlplex Connect will do with the award:

This award from Marathon will allow us to move forward with a broadband infrastructure project that enables targeted residents access to affordable internet. We plan to launch a project this year in the 79901 zip code to assist a cohort of low-income residents.

The 79901 zip code faces some of the deepest digital and economic divides in the region.- Andrea Tirres, CEO of Borderplex Connect.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Commerce, in El Paso County, 31.5% of low-income households (households earning less than $20,000/year) do not have an internet subscription. This equates to 15,777 households. For additional studies done in partnership with El Paso County, Doña Ana County and the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank visit: borderplexconnect.org.