Barnstable Gets $100K Grant For Improved Public Wi-Fi At Youth And Community Center

BARNSTABLE, MA — The Hyannis Youth and Community Center is set to get a major upgrade thanks to a recent six-figure grant.

Barnstable has been awarded a $100,000 grant to upgrade the public Wi-Fi at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center (HYCC). The funds were awarded by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative following the Town’s completion of a Town of Barnstable Digital Equity Plan, officials said.

In 2024, Barnstable received a Municipal Digital Equity grant to work with the Cape Cod Commission to develop a Digital Equity Plan. By completing this plan, the town gained access to funds through the Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Grant Program to address items outlined within the approved plan.

Barnstable’s Digital Equity Plan highlighted key recommendations for digital equity initiatives in the community, which were informed through a community engagement process, officials said.

The first recommendation states, “Support improved internet connectivity by offering public Wi-Fi in key locations.”

Given this recommendation, and the fact that the HYCC is a key community location that also serves as a warming shelter in cases of emergency, this project was developed as a collaborative effort between the Planning, Information Technology and Community Services Departments.

Wi-Fi and cellular signals in the HYCC are currently poor due to the amount of steel and concrete in the structure. This grant will allow Barnstable to contract with an outside specialist to plan and implement a more robust system, officials said.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of October 2026.