ALLbany Online (2013 LGAA)

City of Albany (Winner)
County: Albany County
Population: 50,000+
City Hall: (518) 434-5100

ALLbany Online is a program developed by the City of Albany and a coalition of for-profit and community-based organizations in order to address issues of high poverty and unemployment in the City. The program focuses on narrowing the "digital divide" and helping unemployed citizens work toward job readiness. Through this innovative partnership, City residents can receive free digital literacy and online job skills training at a variety of Community Technology Centers; free wireless Internet in parts of the City with limited Internet access; and low-cost, WiFi-enabled computers.

Technology literacy, familiarity with web applications and access to online resources are increasingly prerequisites to education and employment, making it progressively difficult for those without to compete in the emerging high-tech workforce. Through this innovative public-private partnership, ALLbany Online is effectively using the power of technology to provide essential services to citizens in need, empowering them to become digitally literate and skilled for employment in an increasingly high-tech workplace. This program improves efficiency by offering training programs to local residents at no cost to them, giving job-seekers access to thousands of courses and assessments from a diverse collection of learning-content providers, and helping prospective employees strengthen their job skills to become more diverse in the workforce. This, in turn, helps to strengthen the local economy by putting more residents in open jobs and sending more money back to the Capital Region.

The program, which is primarily funded through federal funds, has resulted in digital literacy outreach to over 1,300 citizens, in addition to job skills training for hundreds of Albany residents. Through this partnership, dozens of citizens reported getting interviews, with several securing employment. Resume-building and mock interview workshops have helped citizens improve their self-confidence going into job interviews. Increased broadband access through Albany FreeNet has resulted in an average of 4,500 residents per month accessing the Internet. Over 53% percent of these residents reported no other means of Internet access in their home.

Utilizing tenets of strong collaboration, the ALLbany Online program can be replicated by other municipalities by identifying and utilizing a public-private partnership model. Identification of a recognized technology partner as a lead sponsor is critical to the initial introduction of the program. Also, having the active participation of local libraries, Workforce Investment Boards, career centers, and city agencies is essential to creating job-training opportunities and educational initiatives that unite the community. The partnerships created by this type of program will provide a lasting impact in Albany and communities across New York State.