USDA Rural Development and Coastal Pines Technical College today celebrated a $93,879 grant to provide new technologies for the college’s Computer Information Systems training programs. The funding is from Fiscal Year 2014’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program.
“The influx of equipment is critical for creating graduates who are workforce ready,” said Rural Development State Director Quinton Robinson. “It keeps students up to date with the continually advancing technologies of the IT sector,” he continued.
Coastal Pines Tech offers the Computer Information Systems program for present and future IT professionals who need networking infrastructure configuration, network design, wireless and network security training. The grant award will be used to purchase Wireless-N/Apple Airport Broadband Routers, Cisco Integrated Services Routers, Serial WAN Interface Cards, Switches, Apple Servers, and Apple Desktops. The college graduated 55 students in 2013 from its CIS programs with 97% job placement rate.
Since the start of the Obama Administration, the RBEG program has helped create or save more than 73,000 rural jobs, expanded or helped establish more than 41,000 rural businesses and community projects and provided more than $170 million in economic development assistance.
Under the 2014 Farm Bill, USDA’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) and Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) Programs are consolidated into a newly created Rural Business Development Grant Program (RBDG). The Agency is currently working on a rule to implement the new program.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA’s investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.
USDA’s investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.