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(EMAILWIRE.COM, June 03, 2009 ) Linden, TN – On the heels of Governor Bredesen’s announcement of a plan to put people to work and reduce the unemployment rate in Perry County, Connected Tennessee announced today that its Computers 4 Kids program will be donating 20 brand new Dell computers to the county’s Summer Youth Employment Program.
Twenty laptops, four inkjet printers and two flatbed scanners will be awarded to the Summer Youth Employment Program in Perry County, thanks to a $25,000 grant from AT&T. Up to 200 Perry County residents between the ages of 14 and 24 will be eligible for the statewide the statewide program, which is also funded by Recovery Act dollars. The program provides summer employment and job training opportunities to low-income residents.
“Perry County has been especially hard hit by the current recession and we’ve outlined a plan to help get people back to work, including offering young people in the county with job training opportunities,” Bredesen said. “Providing these computers through the Computers 4 Kids program will help enhance that training and better prepare Perry County’s young adults for their careers.”
The announcement comes after Governor Bredesen outlined his plan to reduce unemployment in Perry County by using federal dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The GovernorÂ’s plan will employ nearly 300 unemployed residents, potentially cutting unemployment in the county by up to 40 percent.
Perry County has the state’s highest rate of unemployment – 25.4 percent – with 760 unemployed residents. The county’s unemployment rate was as high as 27.3 percent in January. The next highest rate of unemployment in a Tennessee county is 18.8 percent.
“We are pleased to support the Computers 4 Kids program and its work with the Summer Youth Employment Program in Perry County,” said Gregg Morton, President of AT&T Tennessee. “At AT&T, we are working with our local communities to invest in our children to improve workforce readiness and to help ensure the future competitiveness of our nation.”
Connected TennesseeÂ’s Computers 4 Kids (C4K) is an innovative initiative designed to positively impact the future of children in need in Tennessee by awarding computers to kids and families facing economic challenges, in the foster care system or struggling with behavioral disorders and other issues. C4K will be enriching the educational landscape of TennesseeÂ’s communities by placing computer labs in non-profit organizations that work to enhance the lives of children and families in their area. C4K has already distributed nearly 1,600 computers statewide. Through C4K, Connected Tennessee will award at least 3,000 computers over a three-year period to children, families and organizations in need across Tennessee.
A celebratory event to officially dedicate the computers to the Summer Youth Employment Program will take place:
For more information, please contact Mandy Hale at 615-242-9508 or mhale@connectedtn.org.
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About Connected Tennessee: As a public-private partnership, Connected Tennessee partners with technology-minded businesses, government entities and universities to accelerate technology in the state. For more information about what Connected Tennessee is doing to accelerate technology in TennesseeÂ’s communities, visit www.connectedtennessee.org.
About Computers 4 Kids: Computers 4 Kids is an innovative project designed to positively impact the future of disadvantaged children in Tennessee by distributing computers to children and families facing economic challenges, are in the foster care system or that struggle with behavioral disorders and other issues. Through C4K, Connected Tennessee will award 3,000 computers over a three year period to children and families in need across Tennessee.
About Philanthropy at AT&T: For 25 years, AT&T (NYSE: T) and the AT&T Foundation have been committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships, AT&T supports projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. As the AT&T Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009, more than $160 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs in 2008 alone.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
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