Clemson, ECPI donate computers for new workforce development lab

Clemson Extension and ECPI University have donated 18 computers to the city of North Charleston for a computer training lab in the city’s Midland Park neighborhood.

The Midland Park Community Center and Computer Lab will be used for workforce development skills to create opportunities for neighborhood residents.

Cable installation was provided by Teleco Communications and high-speed Internet access by Comcast Cable in Charleston. The building for the center was donated by the city of North Charleston.

Community leaders expressed a need to improve the technical capabilities of the local population, said Harry Crissy, Clemson regional community and economic development agent for Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.

With a six-computer general use area and 12-seat classroom, the center will be used to help local residents of the community develop computer skills.

“This project will help residents of Midland Park learn word-processing skills, and day-to-day computer applications such as email and the Internet,” Crissy said. “Put simply, the basic computers skills they learn at the lab will help them find jobs.”

The center at 7349 Stall Rd. in North Charleston is the second computer lab Clemson and its partners have opened in the city. The first, at the Gussie Greene Community Center, opened in May 2009. The group plans to open additional centers in communities across the three-county region, Crissy said.

North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey said the computer lab provides many with the opportunity to establish and expand important skills that will enable them to gain meaningful employment.

“In an age where information prevails, becoming computer literate and technologically savvy is invaluable,” Summey said. “I am very grateful for the many contributors to this project, and I am confident that the entire community will benefit from their generous deeds.”

Collaborators in the project are:

• City of North Charleston
• Rhonda Jerome
• S.C. Linux Users Group, Charleston
• Clemson Extension
• SClabs, a non-profit outreach aimed at creating free labs for in-need communities
• Clemson University Restoration Institute
• Clemson University Institute for Economic and Community Development
• Teleco Communications
• Caminos Nuevos, a non-profit outreach and education group
• Comcast Cable
• ECPI University, North Charleston