On September 27, 2002, the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the awarding of $12.4 million in Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) grants to 25 collaborative projects involving nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, in 19 states and the District of Columbia. TOP received 741 applications for FY2002 funds. TOP grants, matched by $13.6 million in contributions from the private sector and state and local organizations, demonstrate how information technology can address public concerns over areas such as housing, safety, economic development, and e-government. Since its inception in 1994, TOP has awarded 555 grants, in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, totaling over $204.5 million and leveraging over $281.5 million in local matching funds. Decisions on any future TOP activities will be made once the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2003 has been adopted. As information becomes available, it will be posted on the TOP website: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top As of this writing, the Senate Appropriations Committee supports funding for both TOP and the federal Community Technology Centers program at last year's levels -- $15.5 and $32.5 million respectively. The House of Representatives has yet to vote on its appropriations bills. Both programs provide matching grants to bring the benefits of technology to underserved communities across the United States. For more information on the future of both TOP and CTC, visit the Digital Empowerment campaign, a coalition of more than 110 organizations to preserve and strengthen the TOP and CTC programs. The following is a listing of the FY 2002 TOP Grantees. Full descriptions for each project are available on the TOP site. 1. PatchWorx, Inc. To create an online network for children who have a critical illness or a serious disability and help them develop coping skills, find information, and become more pro-active patients. October 1, 2002; San Mateo, CA; $426,000 2. University of California-Los Angeles Neighborhood Knowledge California (NKCA) Telecommunication Project: To assemble a wide variety of public and private databases to expand opportunities for home ownership through fair housing and lending research, education, and policy development. October 1, 2002; Los Angeles, CA; $700,000 3. Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative DC Health Care For You: To create a virtual health advocacy center devoted to reducing barriers to health care access. October 1, 2002; Washington, DC; $327,635 4. City of Chicago The Greenhouse Project: To develop a model for reducing radio frequency congestion and increasing interoperability among urban first responders by using broadband wireless technology. October 1, 2002; Chicago, IL; $396,000 5. Indiana University Making Communities SAVI: To use adaptive systems technology to help underserved communities access relevant and understandable data to address quality of life issues. October 1, 2002; Indianapolis, IN; $504,954 6. Gulf of Maine Aquarium Vital Signs: To create a collaborative model for environmental monitoring using wireless, handheld technology to collect and share aquatic information. October 1, 2002; Portland, ME; $364,911 7. Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. MassKidCare.Net: To establish a comprehensive digital network for inner city child care providers that offers e-commerce tools and a childcare provider matchmaking capacity. October 1, 2002; Boston, MA; $705,000 8. Eastern Michigan University WebPolis Consortium: To use enhanced Internet technologies to provide greater community involvement in local decision-making for citizens and government officials. October 1, 2002; Ypsilanti, MI; $241,185 9. Grace Hill Settlement House Member Organized Resource Exchange: To help Head Start families acquire the knowledge and skills needed to obtain education and health care. October 1, 2002; St. Louis, MO; $390,148 10. Applied Information Management Institute Nebraska CyberSeed Project: To expand economic development and job creation in an agriculturally-based economy. October 1, 2002; Omaha, NE; $675,000 11. Regional Development Corporation e-Plaza: To develop a web-based collaboration for Northern New Mexico's agricultural community by increasing links between local stakeholders and increasing access to resources. October 1, 2002; Santa Fe, NM; $360,390 12. New York University New York City Housing and Neighborhood Information Systems: To equip local housing organizations and community development corporations with online tools to secure quality, affordable housing more efficiently. October 1, 2002; New York, NY; $457,000 13. Seedco The Worker's Individualized Support Tool: Using an innovative online tool to help low wage earners migrate to sustained employment. October 1, 2002; New York, NY; $298,387 14. North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Inc. Local E-Government Utilization Project (LEG-UP): To develop and deploy online e-government tools in rural, underserved counties and municipal governments in North Carolina. October 1, 2002; Raleigh, NC; $700,000 15. Cleveland Housing Network Bringing Information Technology Home: An interactive technology program that builds capacity for successful home ownership and financial strength among underserved low-income families in Cleveland. October 1, 2002; Cleveland, OH; $504,000 16. Ekklesia Development Corporation Project GILEAD: To develop the nation's first online service linking faith-based human service providers and their clientele in Cincinnati, Ohio. October 1, 2002; Cincinnati, OH; $510,000 17. Lane Council of Governments To create an online tool for local decision-makers that maps the flow of offenders from initial law enforcement contact to release from supervision. October 1, 2002; Eugene, OR; $391,832 18. University of Pittsburgh To develop a gateway that delivers information from any web site, whatever its level of accessibility, to people with vision impairments and other disabilities. October 1, 2002; Pittsburgh, PA; $490,000 19. Emery Water Conservancy District To develop an interactive network to help resolve land use conflicts and improve security and public safety. October 1, 2002; Castle Dale, UT; $369,600 20.Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts stART smART: To develop an online community that provides and sustains professional development opportunities in literacy and the performing arts for early childhood educators. October 1, 2002; Vienna, VA; $705,000 21. Kalispel Tribe of Indians To develop broadband digital network technologies to assist Indian tribes in eastern Washington preserve and sustain their shared tribal culture, history, and language. October 1, 2002; Usk, WA; $505,000 22. Harrison County Board of Education Project SAFE (School Action for Emergencies): To give emergency responders access to video images from cameras located inside schools via laptops while en route, as well as onsite, and from a county command center. October 1, 2002; Clarksburg, WV; $442,000 23. WV Commission for National and Community Service ConnectWV Online Volunteer System: To create an Internet-based tool that matches volunteers to local community needs, including disaster response. October 1, 2002; Charleston, WV; $630,000 24. PIER Wisconsin PIER Wisconsin: To develop a digitally networked coalition of organizations serving the public on Great Lakes, freshwater, environmental, and natural resource issues. October 1, 2002; Milwaukee, WI; $700,000 25. State of Wisconsin To promote food safety and disease surveillance by integrating Wisconsin's information systems data into a cohesive system. October 1, 2002; Madison, WI; $620,000