Suitland Technology Centerchools
Planned ServicesDevelopment TimelineOverview In 1997, Suitland Family and Life Development Corporation acquired an 8,000 square foot, one-story building -- the old Dino's Restaurant. County and private funds received for the building were used to purchase the building, demolish the interior, and rough-in the underground plumbing. The building will be converted into a one-stop shop technology center.
The Suitland Technology Center (STC) will be the first commercial development project designed to revitalize the Suitland community. Suitland Technology Center's goal is to bridge the "digital divide" by connecting residents and area businesses to the world through job creation, IT training and placement, small/micro business development, and retail space leasing, thus socially and economically connecting Suitland to the world. Today, Suitland is a pass through for commuters and a safe haven for criminal activity and sub-standard living conditions. The Suitland Technology Center will be the catalyst to bringing business opportunities and employees outside the fence of the Suitland Federal Center and into the community at large. The Suitland Technology Center provides increased access to state-of-the-art information technology services, facilities and training to citizens and businesses in Suitland and Prince George's County. The result will be employment and higher paying jobs for residents, enhanced standard of living, and an improved local economy. The Suitland Technology Center will open its doors in January 2004. - Information technology facilities, services, and training:
E-commerce, Internet service, and telecommunication services and products.
IT Workforce Development: Preparing the community with skills to become more marketable in today’s technology workforce. A location to provide education to people that live and/or working in community that wish to update their computer/network skills.
- An Internet Café:
A paperless café providing the community, Federal Center and businesses with good food and a place to meet clients.
- Office space for new and expanding business.
By leasing office space from the Suitland Technology Center, businesses gain the benefits of a high traffic area; being close to a major federal headquarters -- the Suitland Federal Center; and being in a hub for local information technology and management, with up to date services and facilities for information technology activities in the area. Whether a high tech business or not, one can leverage these physical assets of the Center to make gains and to ensure the success of your business.
- An Internet Service Provider (ISP).
The Suitland Technology Center aims to provide reliable and economical access to the Internet to local area businesses and residents. We will give the community access to the Internet and return a portion of the proceeds back into the community via social services and job creation.
| Sept. '97 | Facility acquired by SFLDC, $260,000 Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) funds and $35,000 private loan ( Refinanced in 2000 with Washington Area Community Investment Fund-WACIF). | | Mar. '98 | Started interior/exterior demolition and architectural and engineering-$200,000Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. | | Dec. '98 | Demolition and Architectural/Engineering completed. | | Jan. '99 | Requested CDBG extension to develop new business plan and fund development strategy (had $150,000 of $200,000 CDBG remaining, yet a $800,000construction cost estimate). Funding gap of $650,000. | | Mar. '99 | Developed economic development conceptual framework, capacity building and program development for Suitland Family & Life Development Center (SFLDC), hired one full time staff, and developed partnership for development of an economic anchor for the Suitland Business District. | | Sept. '99 | OCS pre-development application not funded and 2nd half of Neighborhood Business Development Program (NBDP) funding not approved therefore no activity on project in 1999. | | April '00 | Received $240,000 Bond Bill from 25th Legislative District. | | Sept. '00 | Received $75,000 pre-development grant from Office of Community Services (OCS)/Administration for Child and Family (ACF)/Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Funds provided resources to hire business developersand financial advisors. | | Dec. '00 | Completed Feasibility Study. | | Mar. '01 | Completed Business Plan. Project budget is $1.2 million in construction costs. Funds immediately available for project $240,000. | | May '01 | Lunch in the Dirt - Public Announcement of Business Plan to promote partnership development. | | July '01 | OCS did not release (Request For Proposal (RFP). EDI grant from Sen. Mikulskidid not come through. | | July '02 | Submitted OCS grant for $700,000. Sen. Mikulski submitted Economic Development Initiative (EDI) grant for $250,000. | | Dec. '02 | Did not get OCS Grant in July 2002. Waiting for OCS RFP to be released in 2003. | | Jan. '04 | Project completion/Opening. |
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