CPB Announces Second Round of Local Service Initiative Grants

For Immediate Release on August 4, 2008

Washington, DC -- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) today announced the second round of recipients of the Local Service Initiative (LSI) grants.

The LSI grants provide seed money to stations for the development of public media initiatives that strengthen a station's role in its community and increase the public's awareness of the value of its service to the community.

Local Service Initiative Grant Recipients

KBTC-TV in Tacoma, WA

$199,626

KBTC will develop and implement a five-year, multi-platform public awareness and outreach campaign for the Pierce county Thrive by Five initiative. This initiative is part of the statewide Thrive by Five Washington, which champions positive early learning opportunities for every child, from birth to age five, so they are ready to succeed in school and thrive in life.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) in Baton Rouge, LA

$127,920

LPB will improve its viewing audience's access to state and local policymakers and experts on hurricane recovery efforts by enhancing its public affairs series Louisiana Public Square. Through the use of new media platforms, viewers will be able to interact directly and on a regular basis with policymakers. To expand the show's audience and facilitate a dialogue between viewers and policymakers, LPB will incorporate blogs, podcasts and video streaming segments as a regular feature of the show.

Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) in St. Paul, MN

$200,000

TPT will create a public media library online by digitizing archived local programs. The accessible, searchable media library will be a resource of cultural and public policy materials as well as a resource for educators and people of all ages. Also, TPS will be able to offer multi-platform delivery of most future, local programs.

WCET-TV in Cincinnati, OH

$200,000

This grant supports an expansion of CET's website, the nation's first community-based on-demand public media website. With approximately 700 videos available online, CETconnect.org delivers rich, high quality video content including interviews with local leaders and experts, documentaries. CET will work with local partners to respond to community needs and CETconnect will serve as a model for other local public broadcasters.

WMFE-TV in Orlando, FL

$200,000

WMFE-TV and WMFE-FM will launch a series of new programs focusing on local government, arts and cultural issues. On television, This Week in Central Florida will discuss local issues confronting Central Florida cities, counties and school boards and The Arts Connection, will showcase cultural events in the area. On radio, a weekly call-in program called Intersection will discuss issues of the week with in-studio guests and calls from listeners.

WPBT-TV in Miami, FL

$200,000

This grant will support the station's uVu online community video initiative, which combines a video website with WPBT's broadcast channels. The online site features new and archived WPBT material, video of community events and lectures and user-generated content, contributed by a wide range of community groups and individuals. The launch and full implementation will allow uVu to expand and foster community engagement.

WPSU-TV in University Park, PA; Wisconsin Public Television in Madison, WI; WOSU-TV in Columbus, OH

$600,000

This grant will support University Place, an educational program created by three university licensees. University Place will provide audiences with university-based content that focuses on economic and workforce development, environmental and energy concerns and public education. The stations will create and re-version the programming for multiple uses, including a regularly scheduled University Place "multicast" programming block, an enhanced pre-K through 12 digital service and on-demand services.

About CPB

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,300 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.

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