The BTOP Experience 2

UROC URBAN RESEARCH AND OUTREACH/ENGAGEMENT CENTER

Broadband Access Project

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.This publication/material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please call 612.626.8839 or email uroc@umn.edu.

Broadband Access Project (BAP) is a partnership among the University of Minnesota’s Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center, Office for Business and Community Economic Development, and the Minnesota Multicultural Media ConsortiumBAP is funded by a $3.6M grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, (Award #27-42-B10003) and a $741k match from the University of Minnesota and community partners.

The Broadband Access Project is made possible by a three-year $2.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce (Award #27-42 B10003) with matching support of $741,000 from the University of Minnesota and community partners.

Awarded December 2009Ends December 31, 2012

Goals

•Help eliminate the Digital Divide•17,000 new users

•Expand Broadband access to underserved communities

(four federally designated poverty zones)•Create access and job opportunities through technology

Benefits to Community

• Two new and Nine improved community-based Public Computer Centers (PCCs)

• Increased Broadband speeds• 30 new jobs created, including 24 apprenticeships• Increased public awareness of how Broadband can

improve lives

Community Partners

• Asian Community Technology Center

• Centro• Church of St. Phillip/Nellie

Stone Johnson School• Hmong American

Partnership• Lifetrack Resources

• Minneapolis Public Housing - Glendale

• Patchwork Quilt• Phyllis Wheatley

Community Center• Project for Pride in Living• Sabathani Community

Center• YWCA of St. Paul

Community Partners, ContinuedMinnesota Multicultural Media Consortium

NewspapersAfrican News JournalAsian American PressCircleInsight NewsLatino Midwest

Awareness and Outreach

RadioKMOJKFAI

Community Partners, ContinuedMinnesota Multicultural Media Consortium

Awareness and Outreach

Community FestivalsCinco de MayoJuneteenthLunar New YearSomali Independence

Superwebsite

Technology and Cultural Reporters

Curriculum Development and Training:Eight Focus AreasThe Broadband Access Project is committed to educating people on how Internet can simplify their lives by showing how Broadband Access (a way of saying high-speed Internet) can assist in different areas:

e-Broadband e-Educatione-Internet e-Health Caree-Government e-Financial Literacye-Commerce e-Nonprofit/Small Business

Other Training Areas

Customized Trainings are available for community groups, nonprofits, and small/minority-owned businesses.

Trainings area available in multiple languages, including Hmong, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Training Options

In addition to classroom-based learning, the BAP curricula are available for self-guided instruction as:

•on-line learning sites;•one-page Quick Start Guides; and •video-based learning guides .

Unique to BAP: 24 Apprentices

• The apprentices will learn marketable technology skills that can be used to find employment in a computer lab, help center, or other workplaces requiring computer knowledge after the yearlong apprenticeship ends.

• Apprentices will receive initial and ongoing training to solve computer hardware and software problems, provide computer support in the public computer labs, and help community residents use technology for internet access.

Asian Community Technology Center - Before

Asian Community Technology Center - After