ECD Announces Rural Technology Grants for New Initiatives
NASHVILLE — Governor Phil Bredesen and Commissioner Matt Kisber, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, announced today the recipients of the New Initiatives Grant Category of the Rural Technology Assistance Grants. Eight Tennessee communities will receive more than $1,300,000 in grant money for the development of regional technology research programs.
“Successful economic development begins with solid community development. These grants supporting broadband and other technology initiatives will be instrumental in laying the groundwork for future growth and job creation in rural areas of our state,” Governor Phil Bredesen said.
“Approaching rural economic development with an innovative and out-of-the box mindset is critical if we want to see all of Tennessee grow and prosper,” ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber said. “These grants are a unique way of encouraging and supporting the advancement of technology, which is good for not only individual communities, but our state as a whole.”
The Rural Technology Assistance Grants are for programs and services that increase technology usage and/or availability in rural counties. The grants were allocated in two categories addressing existing initiatives and new initiatives separately. Recipients of the Existing Initiatives Grant Class were announced last month.
Recipients of the New Initiatives Grant Category are:
• Cannon County School District: $225,276 for eLearning Horizons
• Dekalb County Board of Education: $247,364.25 for the Upper Cumberland Distance Learning Initiative (UCDLI)
• Athens City Schools: $250,000 for Preparing Rural Learners with New Millennium Technology
• Lake County: $16,459 for the Lake County Rural Computer Technology Initiative
• Weakley County Schools: $250,000 for Tools for Learning: Skills for Earning
• North Central Telephone Corporation: $250,000 for Metro-Ethernet and WFI Service Provision in Sumner and Macon counties
• Lexington City Schools: $89,775 for 21st Century Technology Learning
• Lauderdale County Department of Education: $170,228 for the Distance Learning Project
The New Initiatives Grant Category allocates $1,500,000 to competitive grants that address expansion of broadband connectivity in rural counties, decrease K-12 student-to-computer ratios in rural counties, or expand rural distance learning opportunities.
Grant applications were submitted to the Community Development division of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. An independent panel evaluated the applications using a 100-point scale taking into account criteria such as project impact, number of citizens served, project sustainability and the ability of the applicant to implement the program’s goals.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to create higher skilled, better paying jobs for all Tennesseans. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tnecd.gov.
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Contact: Valerie Somerville
Office: (615) 532-1925
E-mail: valerie.somerville@tn.gov
