BRAC RTF Receives $800,000 to Expand the All American Center for Workforce Innovation to 11 High Schools  
 
FORT BRAGG, NC (AUG. 31, 2009) - The BRAC Regional Task Force today announced that the N.C. Department of Commerce and the Division of Workforce Development (DWD) has awarded the BRAC RTF a grant totaling $800,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds received by the state of North Carolina.  This grant award is part of Governor Perdue's JobsNOW initiative.
 
"This funding will support the expansion of the All American Center for Workforce Innovation's pilot circuit concept and distributed learning network that connects educational institutions and business partners in the 11 counties," said Paul Dordal, executive director of the BRAC Regional Task Force.

The grant award expands the technology in 11 pilot high schools and includes a fixed i3D theater, SMART board, video telepresence, HD cameras, and connectivity with a distributive learning network via the Internet.  Recipients of this technology will be:  West Bladen High School, Pine Forest High School, Overhills High School, Hoke County High School, Southern Lee High School, East Montgomery High School, Union Pines High School, Richmond Senior High School, Lumberton High School, Lakewood High School and Scotland High School.

"High school classes at each of these schools will have this enhanced technology and videoconference capability to connect students with a subject matter expert in the region or around the world," said Dordal.

The BRAC RTF in partnership with Fayetteville Technical Community College and NAVTech have developed an innovative enhanced technology classroom that started with the placement of I3D theater systems in each of these high schools to enhance the learning environment in all Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subject areas. The i3D theaters were made possible by a grant from the GoldenLEAF Foundation last December.

Using this innovative technology in the region's classrooms has garnered recognition from the NC STEM Community Collaborative. The 11-county BRAC region is one of three communities in the state recognized as North Carolina's first STEM communities.  The Enhanced Technology Classroom promotes a collaborative environment where fellow students have a unique opportunity to work with business professionals or master teachers to find new motivation to persist and excel in their learning.

About the All American Center for Workforce Innovation (AACWI):
The All American Center for Workforce Innovation opened in June 2008 at Fayetteville Technical Community College with the focus of developing skilled talent for the region's targeted high-growth, high-skill, and high-wage industries, which include defense and homeland security.  The BRAC Regional Task Force opened the AACWI in conjunction with Fayetteville Tech's ribbon-cutting of the Advanced Visualization Center last year. 

The All American Center for Workforce Innovation, with Fayetteville Tech as the hub, is a world-class visualization center focused on learning how to create, build, and deliver real-time, photo-realistic interactive 3D objects to present content to any person at any time and at any location. The Center will serve as a regional experience and discovery center and represents the establishment of North Carolina as the leader in i3D education and content development.