$25 million program aids community organizations

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After a recent survey revealed that the majority of nonprofit organizations in Missouri feel they are far from realizing their potential for delivering information technology and Internet-based programs, SBC announced its new SBC Excelera-tor, a $25 million national grant initiative. |ret||ret||tab|

According to an announcement from SBC, organizations in Missouri and the other 12 states in SBC's service area are invited to submit grant applications for programs that improve technology access, education and work-force development. |ret||ret||tab|

"Community-based organizations serve as the conduit to those most in need of technology education. They're closely connected to the people who can benefit from increased access, education and training," said Jan Newton, president of SBC Southwestern Bell-Missouri. " Southwestern Bell fully appreciates the importance of keeping up with ever-changing technology. We want to do our part to make sure no communities are left behind in the digital revolution."|ret||ret||tab|

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Survey findings|ret||ret||tab|

In announcing the creation of SBC Excelerator, the company also released other key findings from its national survey of community-based organizations. Among the findings:|ret||ret||tab|

58 percent of the nation's community-based organizations agreed that lack of time and training is their biggest issue;|ret||ret||tab|

80 percent either "find it challenging," or "can't keep up" with the latest information technology advances;|ret||ret||tab|

90 percent said the need for basic technology and Internet training for underserved members of the community is greater than the available supply; and|ret||ret||tab|

57 percent said technology could increase the success rates of their programs by at least 40 percent. |ret||ret||tab|

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The grants|ret||ret||tab|

The first-phase grant proposals were due June 3. The company noted that to qualify for SBC Excelerator grants, the organizations must address one or more of the following areas:|ret||ret||tab|

technology access bringing advanced technologies to the underserved, or increasing organizational effectiveness of a nonprofit through the use of advanced technologies such as broadband;|ret||ret||tab|

technology education providing basic Internet and computer application technology training for nonprofits or community members served by nonprofits; and|ret||ret||tab|

technology work-force development providing training that will prepare individuals for today's technology-centric jobs. |ret||ret||tab|

The $10 million first phase is providing $2 million to national organizations that meet the qualifications, and $8 million for local organizations in SBC's 13-state service area. In addition to Missouri, other eligible states are Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin.|ret||ret||tab|

Throughout the remainder of the year, SBC Excelerator will allocate an additional $15 million to be awarded through the SBC Foundation's general grantmaking to national and local projects that, via technology, aim to build stronger communities.|ret||ret||tab|

Information about the grants is available online at |bold_on|www.sbc.com/foundation.|ret||ret||tab|

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