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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release April 15, 2000

     VICE PRESIDENT GORE ANNOUNCES $328,245 GRANT TO OPERATION HOPE
                     TO HELP BRIDGE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Washington, DC -- Vice President Gore announced today that Operation Hope has received a $328,245 grant to promote e-commerce in the low-income communities of Los Angeles.

"Our national economic prosperity should not leave anyone behind," Vice President Gore said. "With leadership and vision, and the right education and innovation policies, we can build on successes to provide new opportunities for all Americans."

Operation Hope has become widely known for its ability to foster economic development in low-income communities. Today's grant helps the organization build a new facility providing computerized work stations, meeting space and training programs for people interested in starting their own e-commerce firms. So far, Operation Hope has used $550,000 in grants to facilitate more than $60 million in private funding to create new jobs.

In accordance with the Department of Commerce's initiative to close the digital divide, the economic Development Administration (EDA) is helping the not-for-profit organization expand its programs to emphasize the global market of e-commerce. Together, Operation Hope will expand its on-going activities into the Maywood, Huntington Park, Bell South Gate, Watts and Willowbrook, California communities.

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