 |
City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
|
NEWS ADVISORY
|
| SUBJECT: Seattle offers funds for community technology projects
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
1/31/2006 3:30:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Keyes (206) 386-9759
Delia Burke (206) 233-2751
D'Anne Mount (206) 233-8736
|
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. 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 March 20, 2006at 5:00 p.m. Grant applications
and guidelines are available for download at www.seattle.gov/tech. An informational
workshop will be held on Monday, February 27, at 6:00 p.m. at Yesler Community
Center , located at 917 E Yesler Way in Seattle. Program staff and current
grantees will be available to answer questions about the grant program. If
you would like Community Technology Program staff to review your proposal prior
to the deadline, please contact Delia Burke at (206) 233-2751 or email delia.burke@seattle.gov.
The deadline for proposal review is March 10, 2006.
The Technology Matching Fund was established in 1997 to support the community’s
efforts to close the digital divide and encourage a technology-healthy city.
Funds for the Technology Matching Fund come from city collected cable television
franchise fees. The City named the matching fund in memory of Bill Wright,
a Central District community leader who embodied the program’s goal of
creating digital opportunity for all and using technology tools to build strong
neighborhoods. Since the program began, the City has contributed over $1,161,000
to 91 projects with community contributions totaling more than $2,635,000.
Prior year grant recipients include:
- Interconnection : $7,400 to donate one hundred Internet
ready, refurbished computer sets to low-income clients of Fremont Public
Association and FamilyWorks. Conduct a marketing campaign to gain computers
and market computer hardware training and recycling opportunities.
- Hate Free Zone: $9,400 to develop a “New American Voters” webpage
to facilitate registration of 2,000 new voters; develop a webpage for their
Community Leadership Council to provide a forum for member participation;
and provide up to 240 community members the opportunity to participate in
a series of live online discussions with local elected officials.
- Lao Community Services: $3,600to help Lao youth improve
their computer skills, academic achievement, and knowledge about their cultural
heritage through Internet research and computer training, and help Lao adults
increase their computer skills so they are more self-sufficient.
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.
- 30 -
Office of the Mayor
|
