Jasper County, Mississippi faces several overlapping challenges that cannot be solved separately. While broadband infrastructure continues to expand, digital access remains uneven because connectivity alone is not enough without affordable technology and the skills to use it effectively.

At the same time, electronic waste is becoming a growing environmental issue. Thousands of devices reach end-of-life in the county each year, yet there is no local e-waste recycling infrastructure. The nearest certified recycler is over an hour away, creating barriers for responsible disposal and increasing the likelihood of unsafe storage or landfill dumping.

There is also a workforce gap. Mississippi continues to face shortages in technical and repair-oriented careers, including IT support, hardware repair, and emerging sustainability-focused technology fields. Soft Logic exists at the intersection of these needs.

We are building a model that turns discarded technology into opportunity by:

• Providing low-cost refurbished devices to the community

• Teaching practical digital and repair skills

• Supporting environmental stewardship

• Creating workforce development pathways in technology and sustainability

We believe small communities deserve future-focused solutions too. Not just bigger systems dropped in from elsewhere, but local ecosystems of repair, learning, resilience, and care.