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FY 2004 TOP Awards to Address Digital Divide in 22 States, D.C.

October 25, 2004
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Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced $14.4 million in Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) grants to 27 organizations in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Historically, TOP has been one of the most competitive tech-based economic development grant programs offered by the federal government, and 2004 was no exception – 494 applications were received, requesting $277.1 million.

This year's grantees represent a variety of nonprofit organizations and public institutions, including hospitals, K-12 schools, libraries, universities, public safety agencies, community technology providers, and city and county governments. Partnerships with the private sector and state and local organizations are required, leveraging the $14.4 million in federal funds with commitments in non-federal matching funds totaling $16.9 million.

Examples of economic development related projects funded through this year's grant winners include: web-authoring jobs for people with disabilities; certification for aspiring telehealth technicians; and tech-enabled enterprise development for agricultural workers. Recipients will use state-of-the-art telecommunications, broadband and other information technologies to demonstrate particular applications that can be replicated in other communities and states across the country.

Funded projects in the Economic Development, Jobs, and Workforce Training category include:

  • Center for Urban Missions, Birmingham, Ala. ($551,769)
  • Community Development and Preservation Corporation, Washington, D.C. ($679,282)
  • Community Partners, Amherst, Mass. ($549,127)
  • DX-CEEDS, Inc., Newark, Del. ($487,972)
  • Easter Seals, Chicago ($286,360)
  • Greene County, Snow Hill, N.C. ($524,151)
  • Lincoln Action Program, Lincoln, Neb. ($580,078)
  • National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, Silver Spring, Md. ($684,507)
  • Nonprofit Assistance Center, Seattle ($436,685)
  • Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, N.C. ($700,000)
  • Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis ($599,407)

More information on all 494 applicants, including the 27 successful TOP projects, is available at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top/whatsnew/whatsnew.htm#FY2004_Awards

Alabama