Multi-Million Dollar Grant Brings Tech Training to Thousands

A consortium of local organizations has received a multi-million dollar grant that will bring Internet access, computers, and training to thousands of Philadelphians.  

KYW's Karin Phillips reports Philadelphia Freedom Rings:  SBA Partnership is a consortium of public and private organizations working to build wealth in urban communities.  

Lead by the Urban Affairs Coalition, the consortium will distribute thousands of computers, support small businesses in Internet use, hook up thousands of households to the Internet, and train thousands of people in its use.  

Lucy Kerman is vice president of policy and planning for the Coalition.

"We will be training some people to become trainers.  Almost 90 jobs for people in training for computers will be part of this initiative."

The $11.8-Million federal grant is designed to bridge a digital divide that sees four-out-of-ten Americans, most of them people of color, without at-home broadband.