Houston PL Gets $4.5M Microsoft Literacy and Workforce Preparedness Grant

• HPL to offer classroom space, program information, and referral guidance
• $4.3 million in grant consists of Microsoft software
• Three tracks of residents targeted

The Houston Public Library (HPL) continues to be a major player in the city’s literacy and employment efforts, as it has been awarded a $4.5 million grant from the Microsoft Corporation. The grant benefits WeCAN Works (Wireless Empowered Community Access Network), a literacy and workforce preparedness project launched as part of the Houston Digital Inclusion Initiative (DII), which is managed by HPL. 

The Microsoft Unlimited Potential grant includes $4.3 million in software (listed at bottom) and $200,000 in cash over a two-year period and represents the largest donation on record from the corporation, according to the City of Houston news release. The money will support more digital literacy training opportunities on weekends and evenings, fund additional workplace apprenticeship opportunities for students, and pay for GED certifications over the two-year period.

National literacy and job readiness model
WeCAN Works will be launched as a pilot over a two year period to create a "digital literacy and job readiness "model .The program offers three tracks of programming in cooperation with partner organizations, including the City of Houston, HPL, Microsoft Corporation, the Houston Independent School District, the Houston Community College System, Workforce Solutions and the Greater Houston Partnership.

Track I will target, place, and train at-risk high school students to prepare them to enter today’s workforce. They will receive digital literacy training, Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and A+ Computer Support/Technician certifications, career counseling, apprenticeships, and mentoring.

Track II will target unemployed and underemployed youth and adults who do not have a high school diploma, placing them in classes to prepare for the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) Certification test. They also will receive digital literacy training, career counseling, and job placement assistance.

Track III will provide digital literacy and workforce skills training to underserved populations in high-need communities to "improve quality of life". These services will be offered at HPL locations, established WeCAN community access locations, and on-site at partner organizations.

HPL’s role; in-kind costs
Besides managing the DII and providing technological support and digital literacy training to the Community Access Locations, HPL also is providing locations where classes for GED and digital literacy will be held, and providing information and referrals to customers. 

HPL spokesperson Sandra Fernandez told LJ that no extra staff will be hired, but "there may be a need to bring on more computer class trainers to supplement existing staff and deliver the expanded digital literacy training," especially in Track III implementation. (The DII also is in the process of building free wireless, high-speed connections in ten neighborhoods.)

HPL’s in-kind contribution is estimated at approximately $1,144,000. Services consist of program personnel; digital literacy and workforce readiness instruction; online GED/ESL/workplace essential skills distance learning software, promotion, measurement and evaluation; and HPL mobile express services.