Oct. 22, 2001

Contact: Kevin Nemeth (509-963-1508/fax 509-963-1690/e-mail: nemethk@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - A partnership between Central Washington University and several local organizations resulted in a $283,971 grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the establishment of the “Open Spaces Technology Center.”

The center will include a mobile computer lab and the installation of computers in the Ellensburg Youth Center. It will focus on improving computer literacy in the community, providing community access to the Internet and opportunities for children to enhance school performance using technology.

Central's project partners are WorkSource agencies (primarily People for People), Phoenix Economic Development Group, Yakima Valley Community College, Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce, City of Ellensburg Recreation Department and the United Way of Kittitas County.

“This is truly a community partners project,” Kevin Nemeth, CWU’s director of continuing education, said. “Our partners provide significant in-kind services and assistance. We could not do this project alone.”

Nemeth said the mobile lab will be built to CWU specifications, and available to residents of Kittitas County. For those who qualify through selected programs, such as WorkSource, there will be no charge.

Other project goals include providing outreach ESL education services to area employers with a large Hispanic workforce, encouraging integration and implementation of instructional technology into public school curriculum, providing computer applications training to non-profit organizations serving Kittitas county, and providing training in computer applications for businesses.

The Center is a direct response to a request from the business community of Kittitas County, Debbie Strand, executive director of the Phoenix Economic Development Group, said. It will allow for business-specific computer training.

“A trained workforce is a great asset for any community,” Strand said. “In today's business environment, computer training is the foundation for a trained workforce. The availability of the mobile Computer Training Center will greatly enhance our efforts to expand and retain our existing businesses. It will also play a significant role in our efforts to recruit new businesses paying family-wage jobs to our community. We now have a tool that is not available in other communities and could be a site selection decision factor. The Phoenix Group applauds the leadership role that was taken by the CWU continuing education department in obtaining the funding for this project.”