Mitchell County Historic Courthouse Foundation

Mitchell County Virtual Learning and Communications Center

The Mitchell County Virtual Learning and Communications Center project plans to double the number of public computer workstations available to residents of Mitchell County, NC, provide job training and educational courses through the local community college and extension service, and expand broadband Internet access by creating a Wi-Fi hotspot in the newly-renovated historic courthouse that will reach the adjacent library and parts of downtown Bakersville, NC. The project expects to provide 28 laptops that can be checked out from the courthouse, and serve over 300 users per week with broadband access and training. Mayland Community College and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service plan to use two new videoconferencing systems provided with grant funds to provide much-needed Courses and workshops for a broad audience.

Total Award: 
$239194
BTOP In Action
Governor Perdue

The Mitchell County Historic Courthouse Foundation celebrated the dedication of the new county courthouse and its BTOP-funded public computer center (PCC) on May 2, 2010. More than 150 people, including two state legislators and a representative from the North Carolina governor’s office, viewed multi-media presentations using equipment from the PCC’s distance learning videoconferencing center. The PCC is one part of an overall effort to restore the original Mitchell County Courthouse in Bakersville, N.C. The other purpose of the Foundation is to improve the economic and quality of life conditions for the people of Mitchell County by converting the Historic Courthouse into a fully functional center for educational, cultural, and economic activity. The availability of computers will contribute to developing the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and attributes of a productive workforce.

Last Updated: October 17, 2011

Reports and Documents
Award Documents