Center of Excellence in Community Technology (CECT)

1
Center of Excellence in Community Technology
(CECT)

• Jabari Simama, Ph.D.
• Vice President for Community Development
• Benedict College

2
CECT Programs

• Community Broadband Research Initiative
• Public Interest Technology Fellows (PIT Fellows)
• Minority Technology Incubator
• Rural Broadband Initiative
• Project SUSTAIN
• Center for Community Life Education

3
Community BroadbandResearch Initiative

• CBRI is a research and technical assistance
  service designed to work with municipalities,
  school systems, community development
  corporations, and economic and community
  development agencies
• Community broadband is defined broadly to include
  
• Municipal Networks
• Public/Private Partnerships
• Non-profit Community Networks
• College/Univeristy Networks
• The CBI will also feature a web site devoted to
  community applications and uses of broadband and
  other emergent technologies.

4
Public Interest Technology Fellows (PIT Fellows)

• Six fellows will spend between 6-12 months in
  residence.
• Fellows will work in teams of two or three in
  well-defined research areas related to public
  interest technology and education.
• The fellows will be a combination of academic
  scholars and eminent practitioners.
• Six research associates (3 junior faculty and 3
  advanced students) will be available to assist
  the fellows.

5
Minority Technology Incubator

• The incubator will attract minority technology
  firms with products or services needing proof of
  concept.
• Development of four (4) minority businesses with
  technology products or services related to the
  purposes of The Center.
• A partnership with the Benedict College School of
  Business and participating businesses will
  receive business training and technical
  assistance.
• Businesses will also receive assistance in
  finance and marketing, including consideration
  for participation in the Benedict Minority
  Revolving Loan Fund.

6
Future Projects
Rural Broadband Initiative

• Partnership with South Carolina Conference of
  Black Mayors and South Carolina Association of
  Community Development Corporations
• Deliverables (Outputs)
• Direct technical assistance provided 9 of 12
  months.
• Technical Assistance Reference Manual (roadmap)
  for six participants
• Needs assessment for six participants
• Six hours technical assistance per participant
  per month (inclusive of training sessions in the
  areas of community technology and Broadband
  applications, development of technology networks,
  and entrepreneurship)

7
Future Projects

• Project SUSTAIN
• Renovation of old building to remove blight
• Sustainable Design features
• Energy Efficiency
• Fuel Cell Technology
• Solar Panels on roof
• Healthy foods bar
• Conversion into Community Technology Center
• Features Community Web Portal

8
Future Projects
Center for Community Life Education

• The Tech Center will be a technology-enhanced
  learning center that will serve as the hub for
  Benedict Colleges research and development.
• The Tech Center will help HBCUs better support
  education, job-training, and economic and
  community development for their respective
  communities.
• The Tech Center will be wireless and have virtual
  links to Richland County public schools, Columbia
  Housing Authority communities, Allen University,
  Claflin College, Morris College, South Carolina
  State University and Voorhees College.

9
Center for Community Life Education

• The Tech Center will feature
• two 25 workstations cyber labs
• one 25 workstation public access lab
• a multimedia lab with 35 units
• an innovation lab (I-Lab)
• a presentation/teleconference room