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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Seattle offers funds for community technology projects
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
1/4/2005 4:30:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Keyes (206) 386-9759
D'Anne Mount (206) 233-8736
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Seattle offers funds for community technology projects
SEATTLE — Seattle’s Department of Information Technology Community Technology Program is seeking applications for the Bill Wright Technology Matching Fund (TMF). This year the City will award approximately 9 -15 grants up to $10,000 each. Seattle neighborhood groups and organizations are invited to apply for funds for projects which increase technology literacy and access in their communities. The City is also encouraging civic participation projects which increase resident involvement in problem solving and use information and communications technology to support their effort.
The application deadline is 5 p.m., February 18, 2005. Applications and guidelines are available on-line at seattle.gov/tech, at Neighborhood Service Centers or by calling the Community Technology Program at (206) 684-0600. An informational workshop will be held on Wednesday, January 19th at 6:00 p.m. at the Safeco Jackson Street Center at 306 23rd Ave S. Small, grassroots refugee and immigrant organizations may sign up for free grant assistance through the Nonprofit Assistance Center. Please call Rosie or Pang at 206-324-5850 for more information.
The Technology Matching Fund was established in 1997 to support the community’s effort to close the digital divide and encourage a technology-healthy city. A recent study conducted by City (seattle.gov/tech/indicators) shows that while Seattle is a very technology savvy community, with 83% of residents using the Internet and 83% having a computer at home, there still remains a significant digital divide in access and use by senior citizens, especially elderly women, and African Americans, low-income and low educated residents.
“It is extremely important that the City work to ensure digital opportunity for all Seattle residents”, said Mayor Greg Nickels, “the Community Technology Matching Fund is a key component in our strategy to reduce this divide and provide for strong families and safe neighborhoods”.
Prior year grant recipients include:
- International District Housing Alliance $9,000 to bring youth and seniors together, using digital cameras and PDA’s to assess conditions and capture important images of their community. The results will be used to engage the International District community and policymakers in a dialog intended to positively impact neighborhood policies.
- Phinney Community Technology Center $9,000 to create a volunteer program which will provide short-term assistance and tutoring to help homebound neighbors and seniors in the North End make full use of their computers
- Vietnamese Friendship Association of Seattle. $5,500 to purchase additional computers and train youth clients to use computers to create resumes, and learn about topics, new cultures and other information and to use the Internet to search information for homework studies.
Sample project lists are available, and applicants are encouraged to contact city staff with their ideas at communitytechnology@seattle.gov or by calling 206-684-0600.
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Seattle Community Technology Program
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