RTA TO LAUNCH "DIGITAL CONNECTIONS" COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM COUNTYWIDE

As part of promoting sustainable tech growth in the San Diego region, the RTA has developed Digital Connections to help bridge the "Digital Divide" in San Diego and reach constituents in underserved areas. This event will celebrate the official launch of the program, funded in large part through a grant made by the Waitt Family Foundation, with additional support provided by U.S. Bancorp. and the San Diego Foundation. Elected officials, including Congressman Bob Filner, as well as representatives from the state, local corporations, nonprofits, foundations, and all 24 community centers selected to participate as members in the program's inaugural year will be on hand to celebrate the program's kick-off. Joe Raguso, Deputy Secretary of Strategic Technology at the California Trade, Technology and Commerce Agency will also speak about the program.

The RTA created Digital Connections by evaluating past community outreach efforts in this area. The program, which focuses on technology planning, training and maintenance, is designed to help underserved community centers build sustainability and technology strength through their new computer labs. The goal of Digital Connections is to help narrow the disturbing gaps in technology access and education, specifically among Hispanics and African-Americans that the RTA uncovered in its February 2001 study: "Mapping a Future for Digital Connections: A Study of the Digital Divide in San Diego County."

"It is vital to San Diego's economic future that we keep up with the technology industry's demands for an educated and tech-savvy workforce," said Tyler Orion, RTA's President and Chief Executive Officer, "we have created Digital Connections to meet the real-world needs of community centers that install computers. Simply dropping off a computer and hooking up the Internet will not integrate underserved communities into the 21st century."

"We are pleased to be a major partner of the Digital Connections program and believe that this an extremely important effort," said Al Panico, Director of Grants for the Waitt Family Foundation. "Our contributions will ensure that our local technology centers and PowerUP centers fulfill their potential and enhance the benefits they provide to our local community."

Digital Connections targets five key areas that need to be strengthened for community centers to fully integrate technology into their program goals. Specifically, the program will provide 1) technology planning to help community centers maximize their technology resources as they develop computer labs in their facilities, 2) technology training to help community center staff and constituents learn how to use computers and the Internet, 3) technology maintenance on computers and networks in the computer lab, 4) technology toolkits - to give to the centers for fixing their computers after the Digital Connections program has ended, and 5) technology volunteers to troubleshoot and potentially staff the computer lab. For more information about Digital Connections or the RTA, please visit: http://www.sdrta.org/CommDev/index.htm

About the RTA
The San Diego Regional Technology Alliance is a private/public non-profit group that promotes high-tech and biotech growth and development in the San Diego region by helping entrepreneurs grow their ideas into viable businesses by managing CalTIP and offering varied services, developing and managing community programs that educate area youth and help create a tech-savvy workforce, and conducting research on the state of high-tech affairs in San Diego. To learn more about the RTA and its programs, including the CalTIP program, please visit: http://www.sdrta.org.