Axiom Education & Training Center Information

A popular grass-roots program that provides computer literacy training to small business owners in Washington County has received a new private-sector grant that will sustain and expand it through 2014. The Portland-based John T. Gorman Foundation is providing a $300,000 grant to the Machias-based Sunrise County Economic Council to fund the technology training program, formally known as the Washington County Education and Employment through Sustainable Broadband Adoption Project. The program was originally funded in 2010 through a $1.4 million federal grant provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce and its Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program. Since its inception, the project’s ongoing, first-phase effort has provided 13,000 learning hours to Washington County residents, including targeted groups of lobstermen, wild blueberry farmers and health care workers. Free classes have covered basic computer skills, Microsoft programs and social media skills.