State Senator Joe Schiavoni to visit Every Citizen Online free adult computer-training class

MEDIA ADVISORY

June 17, 2011

State Senator Joe Schiavoni to visit Every Citizen Online free adult computer-training class

COLUMBUS – The Every Citizen Online program offers free basic computer and Internet training to adults in Ohio in an effort to introduce new users to a wide range of communication, education, and healthcare tools available online. Connect Ohio has partnered with more than 200 libraries, community colleges, education and career centers across the state to offer the training. Already, nearly 6,000 Ohio adults have taken advantage of this free program.

The goal of the Every Citizen Online project, funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA)’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, is to train more than 200,000 state residents by early 2013 and to generate 75,000 new broadband adopters in Ohio. The scope of the 3-year program includes 80,000 training hours, more than 2,000 computers provided to libraries and community colleges, the immediate creation of 136 jobs, and a projected increase in direct economic growth of $36 million annually.

On Saturday, June 18, State Senator Joe Schiavoni will be visiting an Every Citizen Online training class at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County’s Newport Branch.

Who:

• Senator Joe Schiavoni (D), Ohio’s 33^rd Senate District

• Jeff Beebe, State Operations Manager, Connect Ohio

• Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County staff

What: Every Citizen Online free adult basic computer and Internet training class

When: Saturday, June 18, 2011

10:00 – 10:45 AM EST

Where: Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County

Newport Branch

3730 Market Street

Youngstown, Ohio 44507

Contact: Amanda Murphy of Connect Ohio at (614) 214-6755 or

amurphy@connectohio.org.

Learn more about the Every Citizen Online program by visiting eco.connectohio.org.

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About Connect Ohio: Connect Ohio, a division of Connected Nation, is a nonprofit, technology-neutral public-private partnership that works with telecommunications providers, business and community leaders, information technology companies, researchers, public agencies, libraries, and universities in an effort to help extend affordable high-speed Internet service to every Ohio household. For more information about what Connect Ohio is doing to accelerate technology in Ohio's communities, visit http://www.connectohio.org.

Related Links: Connect Ohio on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ConnectOhio

Connect Ohio on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnectOH

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