Las Vegas Urban League and its partners are implementing FREE Public Computer Centers
What: The Las Vegas Urban League was selected to administer the federal government’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), which is expanding the capacity of 14 Public Computer Centers (PCC’s) and creating 15 new computer centers in public housing developments and community and senior centers throughout the most economically disadvantaged communities in Clark County, Nevada. This BTOP PCC grant is the 4th largest of 20 grants awarded nationally.
The 29 Public Computer Centers offer computer classes, job training and certification programs, and community health programs through local partner organizations. Overall, the project expects to replace about 100 workstations and add more than 90 new ones, enabling the centers to increase the number of users served from approximately 1,600 to 4,600 per week. The computer centers will be located to serve vulnerable populations in public housing developments, low-income and high unemployment communities, and senior citizens.
15 of the 29 FREE Public Computer Centers are open as of October 2010
Situation: With today’s record unemployment and a turbulent economy, more people are looking for resources to help cope with the realities of our times. Many are being forced out of their homes and are finding themselves out of work.
It’s critical to get people working again so they don’t fall into the limbo of long-term unemployment, where they lose motivation and may never recover their previous standard of living. Even people with jobs and housing are cutting back on their expenses; for example, many can no longer afford internet access. As a result, public libraries have reported large increases in demand for computers to search for jobs – but waiting lines can sometimes be long.
The Nevada Public Computer Centers are making a critical difference. They are being established by the Las Vegas Urban League, whose mission is to empower communities and ensure equal opportunities for low-income citizens. As one of the two Community Action Agencies within the state of Nevada, the Las Vegas Urban League is working in partnership with the City of Las Vegas, the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority and other partners to implement 29 Public Computer Centers in Clark County.
Project Impact:
· Helping kids get better grades
· Saving families money with coupons
· Accessing public records and documents
· Showing participants how to pay bills online
· Teaching valuable work tools such as Microsoft Office
· Helping participants find a job in today’s tough economy
· Enhancing and deepening internet and communication skills
· Connecting grandparents and grandchildren through Skype
· And much more!
Project Partners:
· Area Health Centers
· City of Las Vegas
· Clark County Health District / Southern Nevada
· Cox Communications
· Desert Rose Adult High School
· Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
· Las Vegas Urban League Young Professionals
· Las Vegas Urban League’s Guild
· Lutheran Social Services
· Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
· Skills 4 Kids
· And more!
Federal Award:
- $4,680,963 over three years, beginning March 4, 2010
Further Information:
- Website - www.nvpcc.org
- Email - info@nvpcc.org
- Message line - (702) 608-5245
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