Technology Opportunity Center

The original five-year US Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant was awarded to start the project in 1996. This phase resulted in the development of 21 Technology Opportunity Centers in nine West Virginia counties (Barbour, Clay, Harrison, Marion, Mingo, Monongalia, Nicholas, Preston and Taylor). The project succeeded in partnering with schools, communities and businesses to provide technology resources to schools and communities, offer free community technology training and career assistance to student and adult learners, and enhance educational opportunities in rural communities.
The funds from the challenge grant expired in 2001, but all of the centers remained in operation for students and teachers and many continued to offer the free community courses through the use of school and county funds.

In 2002, ten additional centers in Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Roane, Summers, Wyoming and Webster counties were funded through the ARC Distressed Counties Initiative. Seven additional centers in Boone, Fayette, Lewis, Mason, Ritchie, Wetzel and Wirt counties were opened as a result of a Distressed Counties Grant in 2003-04. Because of the overwhelming success of the project and positive response from the community the ARC, in 2005-06 will be opening seven more centers in Grant, Hancock, Ohio, Marshall, Mineral, Upshur and Kanawha counties. In addition, in 2006 the ICDL certification will be offered in two existing centers Braxton and Webster.

The completion of the centers in 2005-06 will bring the total network of TOC centers to 45 state wide. Over 550,000 community members, students and teachers have used these centers to date. This project is one example of the determination of The EdVenture Group to build a technology backbone across West Virginia that supports schools and the community. The continued enrollment in the free training also demonstrates the sustained demand in the communities for the resources and training provided by the TOCs.