A $16,000 grant from the technology provider for the Georgia Lottery has built a large computer lab for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lanier.
The grant comes from the IGT After Schools Advantage Program. The lab contains 40 Chromebook computers, two printers and more. Governor Nathan Deal attended the Tuesday opening of the lab and said it's an impressive facility.
"This is a great opportunity for our community," Deal said. "I applaud the Boys and Girls Clubs and I applaud IGT for making the computers possible."
Deal added the kids served by the Boys and Girls Clubs are at the perfect age to absorb high-tech information the computers can help provide.
"Our younger students are important," Deal said. "They require skills as early as possible. This is the foundational learning level and is one we need to encourage. We can't wait until they get into middle and high school and think they are going to be able to catch up."
Boys and Girls Clubs of Lanier CEO Steve Mickens told AccessWDUN the high-tech lab will give kids a step up toward a better tomorrow.
"It affords them an opportunity to be able to have computer access and internet access in an after-school program, where some of them may not have that at home," Mickens said.
The is the 18th such lab IGT has built in Georgia and the 291st it has built since starting the global program in 1999.
AccessWDUN's Derreck Booth contributed to this story.
