| Huston-Tillotson College's "Bridging the Gap Between East Austin and the High-Tech Community" project will enable 40 East Austin residents to secure employment with high-technology companies. Projects will be undertaken in Travis County's most economically distressed area, which has poverty rates as high as 50 percent. HUD funds will be used in efforts to move chronically unemployed individuals from welfare-to-work. Residents will be provided a continuum of technology training, which includes Web site design and maintenance, network administration, computer assembly, help desk upgrade, and troubleshooting. Two concepts of community development, the "Campus of Learners" and the "Sectoral Employment Development" (SED) will establish a model program, including computer labs at two housing authority sites. Huston-Tillotson College will promote a successful transition of residents into the greater Austin economic market by providing important related training such as interview skills, dressing for the workplace, developing a work ethic, habits of a successful employee, resume preparation, and related skills. Self-employment training will be offered as well as direction into other already existing opportunities that residents may choose to pursue. Upon successful implementation of this model, the college and its community partners will seek the means to develop a full-scale Campus of Learners at HACA sites in East Austin.
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