PROJECT PURPOSE:H. TRENHOLM STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (TRENHOLM)'S CONNECTING MONTGOMERY PROJECT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN TRENHOLM'S ABILITY TO SERVE ITS STUDENTS AND IMPROVE DIGITAL EQUITY FOR THOUSANDS OF OTHERS IN ITS ANCHOR COMMUNITY. THE PROJECT WILL EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN THE BROADBAND AND IT CAPACITY OF THE COLLEGE AND ITS KEY PARTNER, MERCY HOUSE, A COMMUNITY-BASED NON-PROFIT THAT IS WORKING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE LIVING IN WEST MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.ACTIVITIES:THE TRENHOLM CONNECTING MONTGOMERY PROJECT WILL CONDUCT THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES. THE PROJECT WILL IMPROVE THE EXISTING BROADBAND SERVICE AT THE COLLEGE BY ADDING A SECOND INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER TO INCREASE TRENHOLM'S BROADBAND CAPACITY AND SPEED. ALONG WITH INCREASED CAPACITY AND STABILITY, TRENHOLM STATE WILL GAIN ACCESS TO VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE (VDI), PROVIDING STUDENTS FREE, REMOTE ACCESS TO SOFTWARE CURRENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE IN ON-CAMPUS COMPUTER LABS. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO BUILD THE DIGITAL SKILLS AND IT WORKFORCE CAPACITY OF THE COLLEGE'S ANCHOR COMMUNITY BY: (1) PROVIDING TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION EXAMS TO UP-SKILL EXISTING COLLEGE IT STAFF; (2) FUNDING THE SERVICES OF A CREDENTIALED NETWORK ENGINEER WHO WILL OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ON-GOING OPERATION OF THE COLLEGE'S EXPANDED BROADBAND SERVICE, MANAGE THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE VDI, PROVIDE CYBERSECURITY FOR THE COLLEGE'S NETWORK, AND TRAIN EXISTING STAFF TO PROVIDE BETTER IT SUPPORT TO STUDENTS AND STAFF; AND (3) RECRUITING AND TRAINING NEW ENTRANTS TO THE AREA'S IT WORKFORCE BY PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS WHO PURSUE A CERTIFICATE OR DEGREE IN NETWORKING, CYBERSECURITY, OR ANOTHER IT-RELATED MAJOR. FINALLY, THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT A COMPLETE TECHNOLOGY RENOVATION OF THE MERCY HOUSE EDUCATION CENTER TO INCLUDE INTERNAL WIRING, COMPUTERS, MONITORS, AND MORE.OUTCOMES:AS A RESULT OF CAMPUS BROADBAND NETWORK UPGRADES, ROUTE DIVERSITY WILL BE ACHIEVED, ELIMINATING OUTAGES AND STABILIZING INTERNET SERVICE. DISRUPTIONS TO TEACHING, LEARNING AND STUDENT SERVICES WILL BE REDUCED, AND ALL USERS WILL ENJOY FASTER DOWNLOADS. PERSONAL PURCHASES OF LICENSES TO POPULAR, BUT EXPENSIVE, APPLICATIONS WILL NO LONGER BE NECESSARY TO WORK FROM HOME, ALLOWING STUDENTS GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR COMPLETION OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS AND FACILITATING TEACHING AND LEARNING ONLINE. AS A RESULT OF THE MERCY HOUSE TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES, MERCY HOUSE STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO PERFORM ADMINISTRATIVE WORK USING UP-TO-DATE COMPUTERS AND WILL BE ABLE TO IMPROVE ITS RECRUITMENT AND MARKETING WITH STRATEGICALLY PLACED WALL MONITORS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, MORE CLIENTS WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN WELL-EQUIPPED LABS AND CLASSROOMS. AS A RESULT OF THE INCREASED SUPPORT FOR IT STAFF AND STUDENTS, THE WORKFORCE, ESPECIALLY IN THE IT SECTOR, WILL BE STRENGTHENED, BENEFITTING COMPANIES THROUGHOUT MONTGOMERY.BENEFICIARIES: BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE TRENHOLM STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ITS FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS, WHO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE IMPROVED BROADBAND NETWORK AND VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE ON CAMPUS. MERCY HOUSE, ITS STAFF, AND CLIENTS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE FACILITY RENOVATION. MERCY HOUSE CLIENTS FROM THE ANCHOR COMMUNITY IN MONTGOMERY, AL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO INSTRUCTION IN COMPUTER USAGE AND INTERNET ACCESS WITH ONE-ON-ONE PERSONALIZED ASSISTANCE. THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY AND BROADBAND NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR CRITICAL SOCIAL SERVICES AND TO CONDUCT OTHER PERSONAL BUSINESS SUCH AS FILING THEIR TAX RETURNS. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY IN THE ANCHOR COMMUNITIES WILL BENEFIT FROM THE UP-SKILLING OF THE IT STAFF AT TRENHOLM AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR IT STUDENTS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES (IF APPLICABLE):THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUB-AWARD FUNDS.