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Charlotte was recognized as one of the first cities to actively support Microsoft’s Shape the Future by launching digital inclusion initiatives for students in their cities. The recognition occurred on Tuesday during the Clinton Global Initiative Annual meeting in New York. Charlotte’s Project L.I.F.T will enable public and private partnerships that bring technology access to needy youth in their regions.

“Economic growth and stability starts with quality education, and Charlotte is proud to be on the forefront of this effort by supporting Microsoft and Project L.I.F.T. in this commitment,” said Mayor Anthony Foxx. “In this tough economic climate, public private partnerships have the potential to make digital access more attainable for students and their families. I applaud Microsoft for extending its resources to the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system.”

At Tuesday’s Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, Microsoft Corp. launched a three-year program to ensure that 1 million students from low-income families in the United States receive the benefits of software, hardware and broadband Internet service. The commitment is focused on filling the gap in home access to technology and helps give students in digitally excluded homes the skills training they need to compete in the global market, increase employment opportunities and contribute to their community’s economic recovery.

The announcement extends Microsoft’s global Shape the Future program, which has provided technology and access to over 10 million students around the world over the past five years. Through this new commitment, Microsoft will work with state, city, nonprofit and private organizations — including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and One Economy — to develop and accelerate reduced-cost programs and policies that will include the following:

Windows-based PCs optimized for students

Broadband Internet access

Microsoft education software

Job skills training

“At Microsoft we believe all students should have access to the building blocks of a quality education,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president, Worldwide Education for Microsoft. “Putting technology in the hands of a student who did not have access is a powerful step on the path leading to graduation, employability and a better future.”