The Vance County Board of Commissioners voted last night to endorse North Carolina House Bill 975 and its companion bill in the Senate, SB 1052.
The bills, properly entitled “An Act to Appropriate Funds for an Advanced Community‑Based Information and Technology Communication System for Vance, Warren, and Greene Counties” would appropriate $2 million for the use of the Internet Community Action Network (I-CAN) software developed by Internet Community Action Network, Inc.
The I-CAN software purports to help at-risk students and individuals use Internet access to broaden experience and network with knowledgeable individuals to hone skills and interests into job and career choices. No Web presence could be found for the corporation which was formed in October of 2006, and therefore no link to any demonstration software which may exist can be provided.
However, a precis of the software by I-CAN, Inc. that was presented to state legislators was obtained by Home in Henderson and is available here. A more detailed explanation of the software can be viewed here.
The bills do not provide funds for access to the Internet, a utility for which public assistance is not available.
The proposed legislation, however, does to some degree segue with House Bill 40 and Senate Bill 112, E-NC Connectivity Incentives Funds. The bill is designed to bring high-speed Internet access to underserved areas of North Carolina through incentive grants.
The endorsement came at the behest of Eddie Ferguson, the chair of the Henderson-Vance Economic Partnership, who appeared before the Commission on Monday evening.
After reading a portion of the bill, Ferguson stated a hope that $2 million would be appropriated for Vance, Warren, and Greene counties. He told commissioners that the Internet-based software application could help residents learn more about the Internet and provide feedback regarding skills and jobs.
According to the I-CAN Transformation and Implementation Plan, license fees for the software for Vance County will be $484,748 for the first year. This number is calculated at $11 per individual with an assumption that 20% of the county’s population will use the software. The initial planning and review for Vance will cost $50,000, with an annual review and monitoring cost of $10,000 per year.
Ferguson noted for Board members that the House bill is sponsored by Representatives R. Van Braxton, Jim Crawford, and Michael Wray.
The HVEP chair also told commissioners that his organization has procured a grant-writer because it will need funding from other sources to be able to fund the I-CAN project.
Ferguson asked the Board to consider speaking to the Vance County Board of Education regarding One-to-One Computing. He cited Greene County as one that has seen reduced dropout rates that correlate with the use of a laptop for students. He also requested that the Board ask Vance County Schools to consider ways to obtain grants on behalf of Vance County students to obtain notebook computers.
Ferguson emphasized that having information and a knowledge base is needed.
The HVEP chair recognized members of the Weed & Seed board who were present at the meeting, indicating that they too support the initiative.
Commissioner Dan Brummitt stated, “I think it’s a totally worthwhile program.”
Ferguson noted that the state funds would pay only for the software and that no hardware is included.
Brummitt added that the three counties would be “a pilot” for the program.
The I-CAN software is currently in beta testing. In software-development parlance, this means that all of the programming issues, or “bugs”, have not yet been fully resolved.
The motion by Commissioner Danny Wright to endorse HB 975 and its Senate companion bill passed unanimously. Commission Chair Deborah Brown directed that the Education Committee work with the Board of Education on the issues presented by Ferguson.
When asked by Ferguson if it would be appropriate for someone from the HVEP to come back and check on the progress of the County’s actions, Brown replied, “Please. Don’t let us fall asleep.”