Tech Entrepreneur Highlights Urgent Need for Local Solutions in Nationally-Featured Interview

BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESS Newswire / August 15, 2025 / Gregory Pranzo, Founder and CEO of PranzoTech Solutions, has been featured in a new industry spotlight article, "Gregory Pranzo: From Local Consultant to Smart Tech Leader," where he emphasizes the importance of community-centered digital transformation and calls for stronger action around digital literacy, tech access, and support for minority-owned businesses.

In the interview, Pranzo discusses his work helping Baltimore nonprofits, local governments, and small businesses modernize their systems through affordable digital tools. But his message is about more than tech-it's about inclusion.

"Tech should close gaps - not widen them," Pranzo said in the feature. "If we want strong, smart cities, we need to start by making sure everyone - not just the well-funded few - can access and use the tools that power them."

The Digital Divide in Numbers

Despite the growth of smart city technologies and digital services, large segments of urban populations remain left behind. According to Pew Research Center:

• 23% of U.S. adults in lower-income households don't own a smartphone.

• 43% of adults with household incomes below $30,000 lack broadband access.

• One in three Americans lacks basic digital skills, such as using spreadsheets or setting up email.

In Baltimore, a 2024 citywide assessment revealed that over 35% of households in underserved neighborhoods lack reliable internet access, limiting their ability to access education, healthcare, or job opportunities online.

"This is a silent crisis," said Pranzo. "And if we don't address it, we risk building a future that only works for some of us."

Real Change Through Local Action

In 2024, Pranzo collaborated with the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition to launch a citywide digital skills accelerator. The program trained over 300 residents - many of them first-time tech users-in basic digital tools and job-readiness skills.

"We didn't just teach them how to type faster," Pranzo noted. "We helped them fill out job applications, access online services, and learn tools they'll use for life."

He's also a board advisor for Code B'More, a nonprofit teaching coding and robotics to Baltimore youth. His goal is to create access early - and often.

"I remember being a kid who was curious but didn't have access," he said. "That's why I show up now."

Calling for Inclusive Innovation

While Pranzo's company, PranzoTech Solutions, helps organizations adopt smart systems and automation, his broader mission is to ensure those tools are within reach for everyone - especially small businesses and underserved communities.

"Too many tech solutions are built for big companies with big budgets," Pranzo explained. "But real innovation happens when a single mom running a small shop can track inventory on her phone or when a nonprofit worker can automate a report instead of staying late."

He encourages policymakers, business owners, and everyday citizens to consider how tech can be used locally to solve real, daily problems - not just to impress investors.

What You Can Do

This is not just a call to city leaders. It's a call to action for anyone who cares about inclusive progress:

• Volunteer with a local digital skills training program

• Donate used devices to community organizations

• Hire or mentor youth learning coding or tech trades

• Support small businesses upgrading their systems

• Push for broadband expansion in your neighborhood

"We all have a role to play," said Pranzo. "You don't need to be a tech expert. You just need to care about your neighbors having the same opportunities you do."

To read the full interview, visit the website here.

About Gregory Pranzo

Gregory Pranzo is a Baltimore-based technologist, entrepreneur, and community advocate. As CEO of PranzoTech Solutions, he leads projects that blend smart infrastructure with social impact. He is an advisor to Code B'More, a contributor to the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition, and a frequent voice on equitable innovation. He holds a degree in Information Systems from Towson University and a certificate in Smart City Strategy from MIT.

Contact:

info@gregorypranzobaltimore.com

SOURCE: Gregory Pranzo