FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 6, 2002
CONTACT: KAY HENDRICKS
COORDINATOR OF COMMUNICATION
(210) 208-8006

ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT TO CREATE WIRELESS INTERNET BUSINESS PARK IN DOWNTOWN S.A.

The Alamo Community College District (ACCD) announced today the creation of a wireless Internet business park in San Antonio’s Market Square that will be the first of its kind in the nation. A $250,000 grant from the state Telecommun-ications Infrastructure Fund Board will fund the project, scheduled to be completed before the end of the year.

The project will provide:

-Wireless Internet and business services to Market Square area businesses
-An example of how small businesses can use the latest wireless technologies
High-speed wireless Internet access for Market Square visitors and community members

"Once again, the Alamo Community College District is leading the way with the latest, most innovative uses of technology," said ACCD Chancellor Robert W. Ramsay. "The creation of this new kind of business park will greatly benefit small businesses and our entire community," he added.

The wireless Internet business park is an extension of the ACCD’s E-Force digital workforce training program for small businesses, which was funded by a $348,000 grant from the Texas Workforce Commission. The E-Force consortium of 330 Bexar County small businesses is one of the community partners in the wireless Internet business park project. Others partners are the city and county, Fiesta Market Square, Inc. and the UTSA Minority Business Development Center.

"It is the vision of E-Force to create a city of small businesses with a superbly trained digital workforce generating higher paying jobs, better careers, successful businesses, a vibrant economy and a quality community. The creation of this wireless Internet business park will move San Antonio toward this goal," said ACCD Vice Chancellor of Information Technologies Dr. Charles Burmeister.