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Grants for Technological Opportunities
The City of Austin has just announced its Grants for Technological Opportunities (GTOPS) for 2004. The grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations for technology projects aimed at reducing the "digital divide". I was a GTOPS judge in both 2003 and 2004, and I was way impressed by the quality of applicants. And big surprise: the City of Austin is actually quite clueful about technology and giving great support for both community technology and the promising technology industries that have become so much a part of Austin's economic present and future.
Here are this year's awards:
BiGAUSTIN : Partial Award of $12,000.00
BiGAUSTIN is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution whose mission is to help economically disadvantaged people to achieve economic self-sufficiency through microenterprise ownership. GTOPs will support BiGAUSTIN’s Micro-Tech project that provides instruction in technology tools for business planning, marketing and operations management. Micro-tech will utilize GTOPs funding to purchase additional equipment and hire a training coordinator.
Cine Las Americas – CineByte : Full award of $20,000.00
Cine Las Americas provides East Austin youth with structured digital media arts experiences that enhance their math and science skills, strengthen their connections to school, provide positive alternatives to antisocial behavior, and develop digital production skills. GTOPs will support CineByte’s purchase of additional computer and multimedia production equipment and will pay a portion of the salaries for a Program Coordinator and Instructors.
Computers for Learning : Full award of $5,700.00
Computers for Learning is a non-profit program that transforms retired computers into productive tools for AISD students in economically disadvantaged families. GTOPs will support Project Learning Link that provides all students at Mendez Middle School with computers and Internet access at home. GTOPs funding will provide the program with 90 modems and Measured Service Phone Lines for Internet access.
Girlstart : Partial award of $10,000.00
Girlstart is home to the first Central Texas technology center for girls. GTOPs will provide full scholarships to Camp Girlstart for 16 girls who cannot afford tuition to learn to create web pages, commercials, music videos and learn about careers in technology and multimedia.
Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce : Partial award of $7,300.00
The Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Partnerships in Technology is a collaborative effort that includes non-profits, corporations and the community to address the digital divide. The project will provide bilingual computer literacy training to Austin youth, residents and businesses in East, South, Southeast and Central Austin. GTOPs will provide the funding for software licenses, curriculum, salary for a full time Lab Instructor, partial salaries for a Volunteer Trainer, and a portion of administrative expenses.
Knowbility, Inc. : Partial award of $15,000.00
Knowbility is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the independence of people with disabilities through technology. GTOPs will fund the Project Coordinator position for Knowbility’s Accessibility Internet Rally (a.k.a. AIR.) AIR improves access to technology for people with disabilities through a series of training and networking activities culminating in a one-day web-raising competition that provides accessible websites and hosting for dozens of non-profit groups at no charge.
River City Youth Foundation : Full award of $20,000.00
Based in Southeast Austin, the River City Youth Foundation provides cost-free educational, technological and life enhancement programs for ‘at-promise’ youth ages 6-18 and their families. River City Youth Foundation will use its award to purchase computer equipment for its Computer Lab/Centro de Technologia and a portion of staff salaries.
jon posted this at 11:38 AM
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