FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2002
    CONTACT:
    ELIZABETH HIRST (850) 488-5394
    LT. GOVERNOR BROGAN ANNOUNCES OVER $6 MILLION
    IN FUNDING TO CLOSE DIGITAL DIVIDE
     
    TALLAHASSEE
    - Lt. Governor Frank Brogan today announced two programs
    allocating over $6 million to help focus on family literacy and bridge the digital divide.
    Lt. Governor Brogan revealed 25 winners of the
    Community Technology
    P
    rogram
    and
    also announced the availability of $500,000 to be split among PowerUP Florida sites.
     
    “This is an excellent educational opportunity for individuals to refine and acquire
    a variety of computer skills,” said Lt. Governor Brogan. “Education continues to be a
    priority for Governor Bush and I, and these grants will provide greater learning
    opportunities for adults and children.
      
    The
    Community Technology
     
    Program,
    funded by the Department of Education,
    Division of Workforce Development, totaling $5,711,332 will be allocated over a two-
    year period. These funds will enable adult education components to be added to Front
    Porch Florida and Digital Divide programs -- key parts of the Governor's efforts to
    improve literacy through the Just Read, Florida! initiative.
    (See attached for more
    information)
     
    Through PowerUP Florida, the $500,000 will provide program sustainability and
    resources for underprivileged youth in Florida. All 64 PowerUP Florida sites are eligible
    to apply for up to $25,000 for supportive services, including personnel for educational
    instruction, non-software curriculum material to assist students, and funds for a structured
    volunteer campaign to recruit mentors for students.
     
    Notice of intent to apply must occur by October 31, 2002. Copies of the RFPs are
    available online at www.flamentoring.org <http://www.flamentoring.org>. The 23 state
    funded PowerUP programs will apply for funds administered by Florida A&M University
    and all sites are eligible to apply for funds administered by Volunteer Florida, but no site
    may receive more than $25,000 per fiscal year. RFPs will be reviewed by teams that
    consist of members including FAMU, Volunteer Florida, the Digital Divide Council, and
    the Governor’s Office.
     
    PowerUP Florida is an ambitious effort by the state and private partners aimed at
    bridging Florida’s “digital divide”-- the gap between those who have access to computers
    and Internet technology and those who do not. PowerUP Florida consists of 64 lab sites
    in underprivileged communities across Florida. The community sites, in partnership with
    the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative, will involve mentors and volunteers who will teach
    participants how to responsibly use computers and the Internet.
     
    The Governor’s Mentoring Initiative has partnered with Florida A&M University
    and the Volunteer Florida Foundation for a competitive request for proposal process.
    Funds available to the sites will be reviewed by a panel and recipients announced in
    December of 2002.
     
    Lt. Governor Brogan was joined by Dion Washington, a Cobb Middle School
    student and youth member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend, Dr. Dhyana
    Ziegler, Vice President of Sponsored Research at Florida A&M University, Fred
    Sanguiliano, CEO of the Volunteer Florida! Foundation, Inc., and local site leaders.
     
     
    Applicants were selected based on their description and
    strategies in addressing key issues and initiatives.
    1. Targeted Neighborhoods
    •
    Rural and urban communities
    •
    Communities surrounding low performing schools
    •
    Front Porch Neighborhoods
    2. Digital Divide
    •
    Access to technology
    •
    On-site instructors
    •
    Internet access
    •
    Distance learning
    3. “No Family Left Behind”
    •
    Neighborhood based programming
    •
    Family literacy services
    •
    Community Involvement
    •
    Support services (childcare - transportation)
    •
    Flexible hours of operation
    4. Collaborative Partnerships
    •
    Use of existing resources
    •
    Minimize duplication of services
    •
    Identify gaps in services
    5. Accountability
    •
    Statewide focus for measuring statewide impact
    •
    Identified program performance deliverables
    •
    Performance based funding
     
    Community Technology Program
    FY 02-03
     
    AGENCY COUNTY
    ALLOCATION
    Alachua/Bradford Workforce Board
    Alachua
    $ 125,000
    Asian Family & Community
    Empowerment Center
    Pinellas 124,433
    Bay County Schools
    Bay
    95,000
    Big Bend Jobs & Partnership
    Leon
    100,000
    Boys & Girls Club of Big Bend
    Leon
    125,000
    Boys & Girls Club of Manatee
    Manatee
    125,000
    City of Orlando
    Orange
    90,726
    Guadalupe Center
    Lee
    125,000
    Gulf County School District
    Gulf
    71,500
    Hillsborough Community College
    Hillsborough 123,648
    Lee County Parks and Recreation
    Lee
    120,000
    Miami-Dade County School District Dade
    125,000
    Minority E-Commerce Association
    Broward
    75,000
    Palm Beach County Workforce Board Palm Beach
    125,000
    Pinellas County Education
    Foundation
    Pinellas 125,000
    Santa Fe Community College
    Alachua
    125,000
    Sarasota County Schools
    Sarasota
    125,000
    Tampa-Hillsborough Urban League
    Hillsborough 125,000
    Taylor County School District
    Taylor
    125,000
    The City of Daytona Beach
    Volusia
    125,000
    The J-Connection
    Lee
    125,000
    Urban League of Broward County
    Broward
    125,000
    Volusia County School District
    Volusia
    75,000
    Worknet Pinellas
    Pinellas
    125,000
    YMCA of Broward County
    Broward
    105,359
    TOTAL
    $2,855,666
     
     

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