3Com, in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, recently awarded a $1 million Urban Challenge Grant to the city of Troy. The grant is part of a $1,000,000 program established to assist 10 U.S. cities in integrating technology into their communities and improving education and public communication systems.
It will help funding for the Connected Kids Project, developed by the city in partnership with RPI in 1999.
According to Teri Harrison, professor of language, literature, and communication who heads the Rensselaer faculty side of Connected Kids, the project is a citywide effort to create an online, self-service database that will enhance Troy youth programs.
Through the grant, 3Com will be expanding technology-focused education and providing wireless network equipment that is necessary to facilitate technology training for program staff and Troy school teachers.
The city of Troy, which will administer the grant, is currently in the process of working along with several community partners in order to determine the best use for the network equipment and hardware.
Harrison, with Jim Zappen, associate professor of communication and rhetoric, and Sibel Adali, assistant professor of computer science, are seeking to obtain additional funding for the software development part of the project through the National Science Foundation’s Digital Government Program.
