Emerging technology grants available

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Grant funding to organizations that foster digital inclusion is available through the city of Austin’s Grant for Technology Opportunities Program through Dec. 10.

Grants totaling $175,000 will be awarded in this 13th year of the program. Organizations may apply online at www.gtops.org .

GTOPs strives to create a community where everyone has access to facilities and the necessary skills to participate in an emerging digital society.

“This year we really want to encourage small, grass-roots, innovative programs to apply for GTOPs funding,” said Council member Laura Morrison, chairwoman of the Emerging Technology and Telecommunications Committee. “Small groups can even partner with an established organization that can serve as fiscal agent and guide them through the grant process. Sometimes the best ideas come in the smallest of packages.”

In FY 2012, GTOPs grants funded eight programs including:

• Providing vocationally oriented computer classes for people with disabilities.
• Providing digital literacy skills classes for non-native English speakers and low-income adults.
• Providing an engineering design program to students at Title One schools in Austin.
• Providing training opportunities for students and teachers to produce short documentaries about their own communities for public radio.

“GTOPs is a great resource the city provides to ensure all of our residents have access to technology,” City Manager Marc Ott said. “It continues to make a difference not only in terms of access, but also opportunity. GTOPs is an effective program and an example of how our best managed approach serves our community’s needs.”

Volunteers needed

Additionally, the city is seeking volunteers to serve as grant reviewers on the Grant for Technology Opportunities Program Review Board that will determine which programs will share in this fiscal year’s funding. An application to serve on the grant review committee can be found at www.gtops.org . Deadline to submit the grant reviewer application is Nov. 30.