Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell) announced today that she has secured an initial investment of $1 million to fund an Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) lab and satellite in the City of Binghamton. The Broome County Urban League Technology Center on Exchange Street will be converted into the main lab, with a satellite lab at the Binghamton Housing Authority’s Carlisle Hills community.

The ATTAIN labs, a first in the Southern Tier, are a network of technology laboratories located across New York State’s most economically challenged urban and rural communities. They provide expanded workforce development programs and technology access. Once set up, the ATTAIN lab will receive ongoing support from the State University of New York’s University Center for Academic and Workforce Development (UCAWD) based in Albany, NY.

"ATTAIN not only provides access to the latest technologies and interactive instructional software for community residents, but it is also a means for residents to gain entrance into higher education and a pathway to career opportunities,” said Vijay Macwan, Director for University Center for Academic and Workforce Development.

“When I became aware of the ATTAIN program, I knew that they could significantly enhance the already existing programs being offered by the Urban League and Binghamton Housing Authority,” said Assemblywoman Lupardo. “My goal was encourage this partnership so that our community could benefit from access to state-of-the-art computer education with ongoing support from UCAWD. This recognizes the wonderful work that was already being done here in the Southern Tier.”

"The Broome County Urban League is very pleased that we are able to enter into this partnership that will enable us to give back to the community and help bridge the digital divide,” said Jennifer Lesko, CEO of the Broome County Urban League. “This partnership would not have been possible without Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo whose hard work and dedication to this district helped secure the funding that will make this program possible.”

“I applaud Assemblywoman Lupardo’s leadership and initiative in searching out and securing this much needed program,” said David Tanenhaus, Executive Director of the Binghamton Housing Authority. “The ATTAIN labs are a perfect example of resources that were available throughout most of New York except here in the Southern Tier.”

The Broome County Urban League Technology Center opened in February of 2000. Space for the facility was provided by the Binghamton Housing Authority.

By partnering with the UCAWD, the center will now be able to offer over 30 interactive occupational, academic, life skills and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses as well continuing to offer Digital Literacy and Unlimited Potential curricula. The labs will offer technology training for free to the community and in particular to our community’s low income population. Three new additional staff will be hired to operate the new ATTAIN lab and satellite.

The labs will be outfitted with IBM computers that have high-speed Internet access and video teleconferencing to encourage e-learning and geographic partnerships for education. In addition, the labs will incorporate hardware that can be easily upgraded to ensure that this technology center and its contents will not become obsolete within a few years.

ATTAIN labs have given thousands of individuals of all ages access to the Internet and interactive multimedia education and training software. The results have been dramatic: a new gateway to education, improved occupational and life skills, better job opportunities, and stronger families.