Boulder Community Network

Contacts:

OSCN Coordinator, ()

Campus Box 455

University of Colorado

Boulder, CO 80309-0455

Phone: 492-8176

FAX: 492-4198

GRANT FUNDS INTERNET

"ONE-STOP CAREER NETWORK"

The Boulder Community Network (BCN) is a 1996 recipient of a National

Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant which will

fund the development of a "one-st op career network" in Boulder County.

BCN will announce its plans for the network and its $650,000 budget at an

"Internet Access Celebration" from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept.

28, 1996 at September School in Boulder. September School is one of more

than 30 non-profit organizations which received Internet access through

BCN in the last two years.

The One-Stop Career Network will be a World Wide Web site

(http://bcn.boulder.co.us/oscn) on BCN compiling informatio n and services

of 16 county-wide agencies. According to the One-Stop

Coordinator, "Providing this information in one electronic location will minimize the need for job seekers to make numerous phone calls, wait in line, or commute a cross town to many agency offices." Residents of Boulder

County will be able to access One-Stop from home, work, or from public

access sites already established by BCN. Additional sites, as well as

training and support services, will be devel oped over the 18 month grant

period beginning October 15.

"With One-Stop we will serve more residents effectively and

efficiently," said Toya Speckman, Director of Employment and Training for

Boulder County. Agency staff wil l receive hands-on training to faciliate

client use of the network.

According to Catherine Weldon, BCN Coordinator, "During the last

two years, more than 60 experienced BCN volunteers provided critical assistance to Boulder County non-profit agencies. This new grant will allow us to build upon established relationships and expand our services those groups presently underserved."

BCN will provide the technical foundation and support to develop

and integrate One-Stop with existing services. It will also provide

Internet access to One-Stop computer lab sites. The One-Stop Career

Network gets a jump start on expected legislation which would require

consolidation of job training programs and related employment services.

NTIA is funding One-Stop at $282,264. The University of Colorado

and the community are providing matching funds of $92,740 and $278,408

respectively. Matching community funds for the grant will come from the

following organiz ations: Boulder County Training and Employment, Boulder

County Administrative Services, Boulder Public Library, TriadCom

Corporation, Longmont Public Library, Project Self Sufficiency, Family

Learning Center, & Louisville Chamber of Commerce .

The Boulder Community Network is a demonstration project of the

NTIA. It was funded from 1994-96 by NTIA and matching grants from the

Univeristy of Colorado, CableLabs, and Apple Library of Tomorrow. BCN is

located at: http://bcn.boul der.co.us. Additional information about BCN

community training programs can be obtained by calling the BCN

registration hot-line: 492-1226.

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