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Due to a rural and remote geographic location and distressed economic conditions, there is a significant need for the residents of North Central Nebraska and South Central South Dakota to have access to educational, technological, and informational resources and services. In accordance with their established roles and mission statements, the University of Nebraska, the Lifelong Learning Center of Northeast Community College, the Cooperative Extension Service, Educational Service Unit #17, and the North Central Nebraska Resource, Conservation and Development Office have been in the process of implementing a community technological learning center in Long Pine, Nebraska. This endeavor has included cooperative programming and coordination in the delivery of education, technological, and informational resources and services to meet the needs of the region for community and economic development.

Due to the increasing availability of both academic and non-academic offerings available via interactive telecommunications and on-line access, the Long Pine continuing Education Center, proposes to be a community technological learning center as well as a clearning house in providing educational opportunities. This will be feasible through the cooperation and coordination of various colleges and universities.

As the state's colleges and universities continue to expand their commitment to outreach programs, technology will remain the key to providing more opportunities for the residents of rural North Central Nebraska and South Central South Dakota. Interactive technological education settings, such as the Long Pine Continuing Education Center will be able to assist in promoting this mission. The five primary target counties in Nebraska include Brown, Cherry, Holt, Keya Paha and Rock and those in South Dakota include Bon Homme, Charles Mix, Gregory, Todd, and Tripp.

The Long Pine Continuing Education Center was established in the fall of 1998, when he school building was purchased in December of that year to be utilizied for educational opportunities. However, in order to provide the greatest array of both academic and non-academic curriculum offerings in the most effective and efficient manner possible, the Long PIne Continuing Education Center proposes to construct a new facility to house a community technological learning center. After the completion of the new facility, the current school building will be renovated to expand the services and programs offered by the Long Pine Continuing Education Center and to assist it in becoming self-sufficient for its goal of providing ecucational opportunities.

In additon to providing educational opportunities for non-traditional students, the Long Pine Continuing Education Center also plans on offering services for high school students interested in earning college credits before graduation from school, college students taking summer classes while home on vacation, the predominately older population who need technological training for coping in today's constantly changing society, and the young adults who remain in the area and need assistance with educational planning and/or career exploration/training. The Long Pine Continuing Education Center will also be able to provide to supplement the educational programs offered by the region's school systems.

Because the business community has a clear understanding of the strong correlation between economic development and the availability of educational enhancements, they will benefit from having access to a technological learning center. The Long Pine Continuing Education Center will also work with various agencies, organizations, businesses, and industries to provide access to continuing education credits, employment training, seminars, workshops, conferences, etc.

It is the goal of the Long Pine Continuing Center to create gateway to technology-based learning through the utilization of videconferencing, explanding on-line programs, and additional telecommunication methods. This organization foresees that the proposed constructin of a community technological learning center will enable courses, workshops, seiminars, and other programs to be delivered by a vast array of post-secondary institutions. This initiative will incorporate education and technology in providing resources that will assist the region in creating and realizing a vision that will emphasize the importance of lifelong learning.