ABSTRACT

Workshops on how to fill out a government application for grant money are never very exciting, but are necessary in order to help applicants access Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money effectively.

Annually, Wisconsin Department of Commerce staff has traveled all over the state, holding many small workshops to explain the application process. For the staff, the material and the activity became routine and almost boring. For the agency, the expenses increased every year. In an effort to utilize available technology, decrease costs, increase staff time efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction with our education process, we tried videoconferencing. The customer feedback after the first CDBG videoconference was very positive, with 95% of the participants liking the format. In addition, attendees had more workshop sites to choose from, saving some participants considerable travel time. We used PowerPoint presentations, videotapes, overhead projectors, telephone tie-ins, and live lectures. Previously, the presentation of technical and bureaucratic information was dull. But at this videoconference, the material was presented with more pizazz. We encouraged interaction between participants at various sites. Now, videoconferencing is our only way to do application workshops and other explanatory conferences on government programs.

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Last updated May, 2006