Digital Skills Program Manager Jim Walsh and Instructor MQ Jami recently attended the Greene County CareerLink Awareness Day event to meet local residents and understand how Literacy Pittsburgh can boost digital skills in the county.
LITERACY PITTSBURGH LAUNCHES FREE COMPUTER BASICS CLASSES IN WASHINGTON AND GREENE COUNTIES THIS MONTH WITH FUNDING FROM COMCAST AND THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION
Six-session course will help adults build confidence with computers and develop foundational digital skills for today's workplace.
WASHINGTON, PA (November 10, 2026) — Adults in Washington and Greene Counties who want to improve their computer skills will have an opportunity to do so through a free Computer Basics class offered by Literacy Pittsburgh at PA CareerLink® locations beginning this month.
Designed for total beginners, the free six-session course will help participants develop the foundational skills needed to use a computer more confidently for everyday tasks, employment, and continued learning. Participants will practice basic mouse and typing skills, learn to save and store files, and develop strategies for troubleshooting common computer problems. Learners may also take a Northstar digital literacy assessment and earn a certificate.
This first cohort, which began November 2 with 14 participants, will be held at PA CareerLink® locations in Charleroi, Washington, and Waynesburg. Classes meet twice a week for three weeks, and participants are expected to attend all six sessions. Adults interested in learning more about upcoming classes can contact Literacy Pittsburgh at 412-609-2145 or email at DigitalSWPA@literacypittsburgh.org.
“Digital skills are no longer just an advantage in the workplace; they are increasingly a necessity,” said Literacy Pittsburgh CEO Carey Harris. "We want adults to have the opportunity to build their skills in a supportive learning environment, gain confidence using technology, and take steps toward their personal and employment goals.”
According to the National Skills Coalition, an analysis conducted in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found that 92% of jobs analyzed require digital skills, while approximately one-third of workers lack the foundational digital skills needed to enter and thrive in today's workforce. The demand extends across industries and occupations, including entry-level positions. Further, National Skills Coalition research found that workers in jobs requiring at least one digital skill earned, on average, 23% more than workers in jobs requiring none.
The launch of Computer Basics marks the expansion of Literacy Pittsburgh’s career programming into Washington and Greene counties. In addition to digital skills, classes and services will focus on the organization’s administrative, healthcare, and construction career pathways initiative, which helps adult learners build skills, earn credentials, and prepare for employment in fields that are important to the region’s workforce.
Funding for this career programming expansion comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER program, which invests in workforce development and economic growth in Appalachian communities, as well as from Comcast through its Project UP initiative, a $1 billion commitment to connect people to the internet, create digital opportunity, and build a future of unlimited possibilities.
“Comcast is committed to helping communities across Western Pennsylvania thrive in an increasingly digital world by expanding our network, offering low-cost Internet options and partnering with nonprofits like Literacy Pittsburgh that strengthen our workforce and transform communities,” said Marcie Callan, Regional Senior Director of Government and Community Affairs, Comcast. “Literacy Pittsburgh is doing important work to equip adults and families with the digital and career skills they need, and our $90,000 grant will help expand that work to more people across Beaver, Washington and Greene counties.”
Literacy Pittsburgh received a grant of $400,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission to support expansion of its career programming into new counties. This is part of a recently announced $45.5 million award package supporting 47 projects through ARC’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative, which directs federal resources to help Appalachian coal communities expand economic opportunities by creating high-quality, in-demand jobs in multiple industries, attracting new sources of private investment and providing comprehensive workforce services and skills training.
“This expansion will allow Literacy Pittsburgh to serve more adults, reach more communities, and deepen our impact across the region,” explains Harris. “We are excited to create new opportunities for adults closer to home.”
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About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to invest and partner to strengthen economic development in Appalachia to help the region reach its full economic potential. Find out more at www.arc.gov.
Literacy Pittsburgh (formerly Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council) helps create better lives through learning. Recognized as a national leader in adult and family literacy, Literacy Pittsburgh is Pennsylvania's largest provider of foundational education and literacy services for adults. A nonprofit organization, it helps 3,200 individuals each year gain the skills they need to reach their full potential and participate productively in their communities. Literacy Pittsburgh provides free, personalized instruction in workforce readiness, high school diploma test preparation, digital literacy, English language learning, math, reading, and family literacy through one-to-one and small-class instruction, both online and in-person. Founded in 1982, it serves adults in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
