TANgents Summer 2004

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Dept. of Commerce is soliciting proposals for funding to support comprehensive, entrepreneurial and innovation-based economic development efforts.

The goal is to enhance the competitiveness of regional business environments that result in increased private investment and higher-skill, higher-wage jobs.

Approximately $285.1 million has been appropriated for EDA programs in FY 2004. Grant awards will not exceed 50 percent of a project's cost. Eligible applicants for and eligible recipients of EDA financial assistance include an economic development district;; an Indian tribe or a consortium of Indian tribes; a state; a city or other political subdivision of a state or a consortium of political subdivisions; an institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or a public or private nonprofit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state.

The U.S. Department of Education is accepting applications for their Community Technology Center (CTC) grant program. A CTC grant can be used to create or expand community technology centers that use instructional strategies to improve the academic performance of low-achieving students. Because this grant employs the "novice applicant priority," faith-based and community organizations are strongly encouraged to apply. Organizations that have never received a grant or subgrant under the CTC program; have never been a participant in a group application that received a grant under the CTC program; and have not had an active discretionary grant from the federal government in the five years before the deadline date for applications under the CTC program are considered novice applicants. Up to twenty-five percent of the funds will be set aside for novice applicants.

For more information and a copy of the 2004 application, please visit http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2004-2/041604d.html

PeopleSoft's Community Relations Program targets community service projects that focus on technology. The program supports efforts that provide underserved populations with computer technology training and education; support creative and beneficial uses of the Internet in communities; use computer technology to improve the quality of life for underserved populations; educate the community about the benefits of technology; and promote mathematics and science education. The company primarily directs support to geographic areas where employees live and work, including international locations; however, compelling projects outside of these areas will be reviewed. Nonprofit organizations throughout the United States, and select international locations are eligible to apply. The next application deadline is June 1, 2004. Visit the websites below for more information:

Wheat Wireless Services Incorporated, a provider of long-range wireless broadband Internet access is offering $100,000 in wireless networking hardware and network engineering services to one small town in the United States.

The Wireless Community Initiative Grant may be used to set up wireless local government Internet initiatives such as providing Internet access within the public library, setting up public or pay-per-use wireless hot spots, or adding Internet services to emergency vehicles.

The town selected for this grant will have a resident population over 7,500 and fewer than 25,000. The target population must not currently have a commercial broadband solution such as DSL or cable Internet. The town's geography should be one advantageous to wireless line-of-site networking, such as a valley or flat community.

This grant is limited to cities located within the continental United States and is redeemable in network engineering services and Wheat Wireless Services equipment for up to one year after the grant is awarded.

or by contacting the grant coordinator, Michael Troutman, at 703.262.9100 or via email at mtroutma@wheatintl.com. Interested parties should submit their application to the following address no later than July 2, 2004.

TANgents, a quarterly publication of Technologies Across Nebraska, is edited and produced by Linda Tempel, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, ltempel@unlnotes.unl.edu, and Anne Byers, Nebraska Information Technology Commission, abyers@notes.state.ne.us. Please contact us if you would like to contribute an article or an idea for an article. Comments and suggestions are also welcome.