Author: AWS Public Sector Blog Team

AWS announced the launch of a new program, and the expansion of a second, to increase access to science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) educational programs and resources across Virginia and beyond. These are the most recent AWS community impact efforts that aim to increase access to tech tools and training while reducing barriers to students who are underrepresented and underserved.

On June 7-8, 2023, AWS will host the AWS Summit Washington, DC at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. This no-cost, two-day event brings the public sector cloud computing community together to connect, collaborate, and learn more about AWS. Are you ready to join your public sector peers to find out how you can use cloud technology to drive culture change, digital transformation, infrastructure modernization, and more? If you’re planning on attending, learn how you can make the most of the event.

While the 2023 hurricane season kicks off June 1, the reality is that AWS is working to help organizations and communities respond to hurricanes long before a storm forms. Throughout the year, AWS Disaster Response develops and tests new innovations that utilize cloud technology to enable more efficient disaster response capabilities for our customers and relief organizations.

In Virginia, where AWS has an important and growing presence, AWS is investing significantly in supporting skills and education programs to promote a thriving workforce. The AWS Fiber Optic Fusion Splicing Certificate Course is one of the programs AWS runs locally to help individuals get the skills necessary to repair and install fiber optic cables. Recently, AWS held a training at the AWS Skills Center in Arlington in collaboration with Northern Virginia Community College. Learn more about how programs like these are supporting the local workforce in Virginia.

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), a leading satellite solutions provider, together with its subsidiary One Click Go Live (OCGL) use AWS for live streaming and to roll out new applications and services swiftly without the need to worry about infrastructure stability and scalability. Using AWS solutions, OCGL is able to provide innovative and highly reliable services to global customers and enhance real-time viewing experiences.

According to a new economic impact study (EIS) from AWS, AWS has invested ZAR 15.6 billion through 2022 to meet customer demand for cloud computing services. Thousands of South African customers have used AWS technologies to transform their businesses and accelerate their innovation, agility, and cost savings since AWS launched the AWS Africa (Cape Town) Region in 2020. According to the EIS, AWS operations will add an estimated ZAR 68 billion more to South Africa’s GDP by 2029. AWS’s investment impacts other parts of the South African economy as well, helping develop the next generation of workforce, digitally transform businesses, and promote sustainability throughout the country.

AWS launched new tiered support for the AWS Nonprofit Credit Program. The AWS Nonprofit Credit Program works with TechSoup to provide 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations such as charities, libraries, and museums, across the globe with access to AWS Promotional Credit. Promotional credit enables organizations of all sizes to scale their operations, reduce costs, and deliver more impact on their mission and the communities they serve. With this update to the program, the value of promotional credit an organization can receive will be based on the size of their annual operations budgets, extending opportunities for nonprofits of all sizes to accelerate their missions with cloud technology.

Climate change is a significant factor in many health-related issues, from the increase of pest-related illness, to food scarcity, access to clean air and water, and beyond. Recognizing the power the cloud has to amplify technologies that mitigate many of these issues, AWS is sponsoring a new fellowship with Halcyon, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit supporting impact-driven startups. Designed for entrepreneurs seeking to build climate resilience across Latin America and the Caribbean, the Halcyon Climate Resilience Intensive Fellowship aims to combat the compounding effects of climate change on poverty, food insecurity, health disparities, and displacement.

Today at the IMAGINE: Nonprofit conference, AWS launched the 2023 AWS IMAGINE Grant cycle. Each year, the grant program provides a holistic package of resources, including unrestricted funding, to nonprofit organizations pursuing cloud technology projects for mission impact. Through the IMAGINE Grant, AWS discovers nonprofits that are bringing high-impact technology projects to life. New this year, nonprofits applying for the Momentum to Modernize award may now receive up to $50,000 in funding towards their foundational cloud projects. Learn how to apply now.

The Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of High-Tech Industry and AWS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim of modernizing the technological infrastructure of the state and accelerating the adoption of cloud services in the public and the private sector of Armenia. The collaboration with AWS, a global leader in cloud computing, provides a unique opportunity to drive Armenia’s modernization and digital transformation, an integral part of the national agenda and a catalyst to strengthen Armenia’s position as a regional leading technology hub.