Between now and next summer, 20,000 adults in Mecklenburg County will get free laptop computers, courtesy of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

The giveaway is a part of the MeckTech Computer Kit Program, an initiative to help county residents access digital resources. The Emergency Connectivity Fund will pay for the refurbished computers.

Interested residents can apply online. Applicants will be notified by email within five to seven business days if they are approved for a free laptop.

The program is set to end June 30, 2023.

Residents who receive a free computer must choose a date and time for pick-up. Distribution dates are first-come, first-served. Once all fall slots are filled, the application process will close and reopen in early 2023.

Eligible applicants must:

  • Be 18 years or older
  • Be a Mecklenburg County resident
  • Have an active email address; all communication will be done via email
  • Provide a photo ID and proof of Mecklenburg County address at pickup
  • Sign a statement attesting that they would not otherwise have technology necessary to meet their educational/informational needs

Why it matters: Almost 55,000 households in Charlotte, most of which Black and brown, don’t have laptops or access to the internet.

The Center for Digital Equity (CDE), which is part of the Mayor’s Racial Equity Initiative, is partnering in the computer giveaway.

CDE officials will be at distribution sites with information about the Affordable Connectivity Program, a national effort that helps eligible households access the internet through discounted services.





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