Welcome to the Communities Connect Network

Thanks to everyone who attended our June 12th Washington State broadband stimulus and community technology work session. Video of the presentation and work groups reports are available on Ustream, and photos of the event now on Flickr. We're on twitter too.

Connecting Communities with Opportunities
through Technology

What could you do with $7.2 billion?  What could your organization do with even a fraction of those dollars?  CCN wants to help you find out.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides billions of dollars for broadband deployment and adoption programs.  The catch is how to position your organization to receive those dollars.  This is especially a challenge for many organizations that do not have the capacity to write a federal grant application, much less administer it in all its glorious detail if one is received.  In addition, successful ARRA applications will most likely address multiple service delivery strategies and be comprised of multiple partners.  Pulling all that together is beyond the ability of most of our member organizations.

This is where CCN can help.

On June 12th, CCN and Microsoft are hosting a work session for community technology organizations ranging from libraries to work skills training centers and many others to outline proposals for combined grant applications.  Our goal is to identify two or three broadband adoption themes or service needs, such as enhanced computer training, that could provide a pathway to funding for CT programs across the state.

There is no cost to attend this session, other than your own travel expenses.  The only cost to your organization will be whatever match is required for the application.  This is true regardless of whether you choose to apply on your own or as a group.  The agenda of this meeting will be based on your feedback; please take our short survey here. For more details, please e-mail megan@nwstonesoup.org.

In addition to managing the grant application process CCN hopes to assist direct service organizations with the challenges of managing a federal grant by providing services such as program evaluations and reporting.  The cost for these services would come from the grant itself, not the individual organizations. 

The ARRA grant guidelines have yet to be announced, but we want our state’s community technology organizations to be ready to apply during the first round of funding.  Our understanding is that these applications may be due as early as the beginning of August.

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It's simple...

... those with greater access to the internet and information technologies are better equipped to access quality educational and career opportunities, better health care and information, and generally greater success in Washington’s 21st century society and economy.

People with access can also get more involved -- in their schools, in their governments, in their communities. Unfortunately, Washington State is a long way from having fair access for all.

We are a statewide coalition of public & private organizations committed to provide local technology access, training, and content to underserved and disadvantaged residents of Washington State.

Our mission? To ensure Washington is a leader in digital inclusion by strengthening the community technology field.