Mayor Proclaims August as "GTOPs Month" in Austin

This afternoon, Mayor Wynn issued a proclamation honoring the Grant for Technology Opportunities program, and declaring August "GTOPs Month" in Austin. You may view the proclamation here (137KB PDF).

I chair the Austin Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission, which oversees the program, so I had an opportunity to make some comments during the ceremony. Here is my statement:

On behalf of the 60 programs and over 15,000 people that have been served by GTOPs, thank you for this honor.

The Grant for Technology Opportunities program—GTOPs—creates digital opportunities for people throughout Austin.

GTOPs provides matching grant funds to local organizations that work to bridge the digital divide, as well as organizations that use technology in novel ways to benefit the community.

In its first six years, GTOPs awarded $570,000 in grants. In turn, GTOPs recipients have raised more than $1,000,000 in matching funds. That's an extraordinary return on our investment.

In 2008, the City provided $150,000 for GTOPs grants. The organizations that received those funds are:

• 4-H Capital Project
• Austin Groups for the Elderly
• Breakthrough
• Computers for Learning
• Easter Seals Central Texas
• El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission
• Housing Authority of the City of Austin
• Knowbility
• Skillpoint Alliance

I encourage any local organization that provides technology access or training, or uses technology to serve the community, to find out more about GTOPs. Visit the web site at www.gtops.org.

Mayor Wynn, thank you for supporting GTOPs. We're all proud of its accomplishments, and we look forward to a great 2009.

Aug 26 update: Read more about it here: August Declared GTOPs Month!