In the heart of Jacksonville’s Out East neighborhood, something powerful is taking shape at The Corner at Debs Store – and it goes beyond fresh produce and pantry staples. Together with Goodwill Industries of North Florida, we’ve opened the city’s very first AT&T Connected Learning Center® right inside this recently restored, community-driven grocery store.
This launch marks our sixth Connected Learning Center in Florida and another important step in our ongoing mission to help close the digital divide.
Now, Jacksonville residents have a dedicated space to connect – with high-speed AT&T Fiber internet, Wi-Fi, and free access to digital learning tools like The AchieverySM, our digital education platform. Just as importantly, this is a place where local students and families can receive tutoring and mentorship from AT&T employees and other community volunteers.
As we celebrated the launch of the Center, we also marked another big milestone: The Corner at Debs Store was just approved as a Blue Zones Grocery Store. That means this location is committed to promoting healthier lifestyle choices, like highlighting fresh fruits and vegetables and telling stories of local growers. We’re proud to be part of a broader mission to support physical, financial – and now digital – well-being in this neighborhood.
“When we opened the restored Corner at Debs Store, we knew we wanted to be more than just a grocery store,” said David Rey, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of North Florida. “Adding the Connected Learning Center aligns perfectly with our mission. It gives residents access to the digital tools they need to apply for jobs, advance their education, and connect with the world around them.”
As part of this collaboration, AT&T contributed $50,000 to Goodwill Industries of North Florida to support programming at the Center and help ensure long-term impact. And during the community celebration, we joined Goodwill and local leaders to provide 250 laptops to families, making sure more Jacksonville residents can take full advantage of this new digital hub.
For us, it’s more than just opening a center – it’s about showing up for the communities we serve. It’s about working with organizations who already have deep roots and trust in the neighborhoods they support. It’s about building a future where every student, every job seeker, and every family has an equal opportunity to succeed in the digital age.
Our investment in the Connected Learning Center at The Corner at Debs Store directly reflects our commitment to get more Americans connected and make an impact in the communities we serve.
This new center is just one part of our broader effort to open at least 100 AT&T Connected Learning Centers by the end of 2027 and help 25 million people get and stay connected by 2030.
We’re excited to bring this resource to Jacksonville and look forward to building even more connections that uplift, empower, and bring opportunity to every corner of the Sunshine State.
