The Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency, also known as ATCAA has secured a 250,000 dollar grant from the California Emerging Technology Fund, or CETF to help five rural Sierra counties improve high speed Internet accessATCAA Central Sierra Connect involves Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties. It is part of a statewide effort to help rural counties gain 100 percent coverage for high speed internet and encourage wider use of technology by all residents. The CETF, created as part of private telecommunication company mergers, is charged with helping rural areas “catch up” to urban areas of the state. “Ultimately, we all want high speed Internet to be as universal as telephone service and is easily to use for all residents including low-income, senior and disabled people,” said Project Coordinator Michelle Shelton.

“That is vital to the future of our communities.” Central Sierra Connect is the second of seven rural regions in the state to secure a planning grant – the first, Redwood Coast Connect serving Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and Mendocino counties, was funded last year. Each local county will be contributing time and funding to the project, and each will be able to develop its own more detailed plans for future projects. Calaveras County’s Mary Sawicki, the Program Manager for Calaveras Works and Human Services, said broadband connections are essential for helping disenfranchised people find jobs and resources. “It has been said over 80% of employment opportunities are advertised on the internet,” she said. “The internet opens up resources and educational opportunities that appear almost limitless.” For more information, visit the website: www.centralsierraconnect.org. for all households and businesses. The one-year project, called ATCAA Central Sierra Connect, will launch with the first meeting of the project Advisory Council in the morning and a community forum at Ironstone Vineyards on June 12, from 1-4 pm.