In 2014, the Barrington Area Development Council (BADC) launched Project Horsepower, a groundbreaking partnership with Barrington School District 220, the PTO Presidents’ Council, and corporate stakeholders designed to bridge the digital divide and extend learning beyond the classroom. Serving as a first-of-its-kind national pilot program, the initiative provided free home wireless internet access to students qualifying for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program, ensuring equitable educational opportunities past the end of the school day.

The initiative successfully supported approximately 1,600 students across 725 low-income households. Corporate partners Comcast Cable and Netgear provided routers and internet service at heavily subsidized rates, while a targeted four-month fundraising campaign spearheaded by BADC fully covered the remaining balances, reducing the final cost for participating families to zero. The effort culminated in a $20,000 donation presented to the Board of Education. Through this collaborative achievement, Barrington School District 220 became the first public school system in the United States to implement Project Horsepower.