WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority is being awarded $176,400 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand the capacity of one public computer center and create additional computer labs within community centers in Santa Fe.
The project expects to add 13 new broadband workstations and replace seven others which will allow the centers to increase the number of patrons who use the computers by more than 100 per week. The funding comes from the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.
"Expanding computer access will give students new tools to do their homework, and allow adults to continue their own education and even find new employment," Bingaman said. "This investment to improve broadband access in Santa Fe will have a positive impact on many lives."
"In these tough economic times, it is crucial to provide more access to broadband computer centers as many jobseekers need access to online services to apply for jobs," said Udall, a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. "This funding will help bridge the technical divide."
The Santa Fe Housing Authority is a local government entity which partners with more than 20 social service and private agencies to operate housing programs throughout the city and provides access to broadband and computer training to low-income families, minorities, disadvantaged youth as well as disabled and elderly Santa Fe Residents.
