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The ultimate goal of The Institute is to educate individuals for employable occupations or upgrades into new positions, thus supplying the community with tax-paying citizens.

Bits and Bytes in the News

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�Bits and Bytes Gets Award�

The Bits and Bytes Computer Training Center in Belleville received an award for its 2005 Summer Youth Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.

�We had more than 100 kids apply for the program,� said Linda Calmese, owner of Bits and Bytes. �We trained them on program building, problem solving and critical thinking. We basically brought in young interns and gave them a chance to run their own businesses. It was like Donald Trump�s show on television, except that they didn�t fire anybody.

Bill Gagen, manager of the Mid-America Workforce Investment Board, said the Excellence was by his and presented by U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello because everyone was impresses by how quickly the program was pulled together and how well it worked.

�What was amazing is that there was almost a 100 percent completion rate,� Gagen said. It was a pilot project. But we hope to keep it going and on a much broader scale in the future.

The program was funded by a state grant and by scholarships from Bits and Bytes. St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern sponsored the grant, Calmese said.

Romero Austin, a 17-year-old Belleville East student, said participants broke down into teams of 10 people who designed and sold products.

�We made decorative pillows that could have any character or picture on them,� Austin said. �They ranged from $5 to $30 and we sold more than 30 of them.�

Austin�s team, the Nija Entrepreneurs, made the highest profit-$525 and he was the top salesperson.
�It really encouraged me a lot and showed me that I can have my own ideas and run my own business,� Austin said.

Calmese said even though the seven weeks of the program are over, she will continue to work with the participants throughout the school year.

Bits and Bytes, 7705 W. Main St., offers computer training programs to children and adults. The company celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this spring.

**For more information, please call Vanetta Davis today at (618) 397-3131 to request an application.