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Community Access Program (CAP) in Inverness County Building Stronger Communities through Technology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 16, 2012 Closure of the Community Access Program (CAP) will have a negative impact on communities across Inverness County.
Industry Canada cut funding for the Community Access Program (C@P) on April 5th, 2012. The closure of C@P sites will have a direct negative impact on residents, businesses and communities across Inverness County. There are 14 C@P Sites in Inverness County. These sites provide Internet access to communication technology and information and as well as training. The Inverness County C@P Network Society (ICCNS) has provided these 14 communities with administrative, management and planning support since 2002. ICCNS has provided each C@P site with a summer student and some with a part-time winter student, for a total of 129 youth employment positions over the past 8 years. Last year we provided employment for 20 youth. Vincent Hines, a university student from Meat Cove, commented, I believe most, if not all of the community, would agree that the C@P site is the heart of this community. I, like so many others depend on the C@P site. The federal government has stated that it will continue to fund the Youth C@P Intern Program, but most of our community C@P sites will close as a result of this funding cut and there will be no coordinator in place to administrate it. This will result in anywhere from 12- 20 student jobs lost. The majority of residents of Inverness County may have access to broadband, however barriers to internet access and computers still exist for many. Two of the biggest barriers are affordability and digital literacy. Many cannot afford a computer or the cost of a broadband connection.

Inverness County C@P Network Society 2012

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Community Access Program (CAP) in Inverness County Building Stronger Communities through Technology

We have a growing population of people and businesses with low or no digital skills. C@P focuses on the need to provide digital literacy skills necessary in todays on-line world. ICCNS has recently provided social media training to tourism and small business operators, computer training to seniors, and Microsoft training and workshops. C@P Youth Interns provide computer assistance and training as well as summer computer camps to kids. With appropriate funding, ICCNS plans to continue providing and expanding upon these training needs. ICCNS receives from Industry Canada $2,500 for each C@P site and $15,000 for coordination. This does not cover all CAP site-operating costs, but it does cover some core costs, like connectivity or a new computer. The $15,000 allocated for coordination does not cover the costs of the ICCNS coordinator for the year, but provides enough funding for that person to work on C@P initiatives and other funding opportunities that benefit the network and their communities. In the past 8 years, ICCNS has secured over $619,000 in project funding, which provided employment to 43 adults. We have taken $120,000 in coordination funding and generated $619,000 in project funding, dollars that have come into our region. How many federal programs can boast that kind of return? "Cutting Cap Site Programming goes well beyond the computer labs themselves and those who depend on them for technology, like using the Internet to access government websites, for example." says Dwayne MacEachern, Acting Chair of ICCNS. "These cuts go right to the heart of many community organizations who house the sites." We cannot loose any more community programs, especially economic driver for our county. If you do not want to see your local C@P site close, we urge you to go to www.savecap.ca, complete the form letter addressed to the Minster of Industry, and have your voice heard.

Inverness County C@P Network Society 2012

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Community Access Program (CAP) in Inverness County Building Stronger Communities through Technology

For more information contact: Dwayne MacEachern, Acting President ICCNS dwayne.maceachern@iccns.ca

Inverness County C@P Network Society 2012

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