August 25, 2005
By SHANNON PETTYPIECE
Crain's Reporter

The Cleveland Housing Network received a significant grant in cash and software from Microsoft Corp. to help improve technology education for Cleveland residents.

The money will pay for software upgrades to 17 computers used as part of the housing networks' Community Training and Technology Center at 4008 St. Clair Ave., where courses in technology are taught and low-income families have access to high-speed Internet.

The center provides service to some 2,500 residents, said Kate Monter Durban, assistant director of the Cleveland Housing Network.

The grants also will support a computer training course that can be used as college credit, and will pay for the center to hire computer-proficient Cleveland high school students for tech support at the center.

Microsoft found out about the Community Training and Technology Center through one of its sales representatives, Dan Shepherd, who got involved with the program during his spare time, said Marietta Davis, a Microsoft spokeswoman.

Since 2000, Microsoft has given $3 million in software and cash to Cleveland programs as part of a Microsoft program that awarded $374 million software and cash to non-profits last year, Ms. Davis said.