October 18, 2001 | Read Time: 1 minute
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Technology Opportunities Program has awarded grants totaling $42.8-million to 74 nonprofit organizations and state and local governments.
Since 1994, the program has awarded grants for innovative technology projects in education, health care, economic development, and other areas. The awards, which this year range in amount from $201,611 to $899,113, must be matched by private gifts or by state and local governments.
Among the new grantees:
- The Aspen Institute, in Washington, which is using its $427,606 award to develop an online mentor program to connect low-income entrepreneurs with experienced businesspeople in the same industry.
- The Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, which is building a multimedia center with its $500,500 grant to provide technology training and create employment opportunities for young people who have been involved in gangs.
- The Pine Tree Society for Handicapped Children and Adults, in Scarborough, Me., which received $579,031 to provide sign-language interpretation services for deaf and hearing-impaired patients at hospitals across the state via videoconferences.
The $42.8-million awarded this year is a steep increase over the $13.9-million distributed last year. President Bush has requested $15.5-million for the Technology Opportunities Program in his budget proposal for fiscal 2002.
For more information: Go to http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top/index.html.
