FARMINGTON -- A new project that brings laptops to the workplace to train employees and also lends them to college-bound, adult education students has received a $7,500 gift from Franklin Savings Bank to help buy the hardware.

The donation to Franklin County Adult and Community Education will be added to a $10,000 matching grant from the John Merck Fund, applied for through the Opportunity Center of North Franklin County in Avon.

"What is exciting about (Franklin Savings') gift is that the private sector is being a model for other businesses by supporting non-profits," said Ray Therrien, the director of School Administrative District 9's Adult Education program.

"We consider this as part of our mission," said Franklin Savings' president Peter Judkins.

Judkins said the bank was initially going to donate $5,000 but increased the gift because of the importance of the program.

Therrien said another $10,000 is still needed to meet demand. The computers will be used for a new mobile laptop loan program for adults enrolled in the new Franklin County Community College Network.

The units will also be used in worksite trainings to upgrade employees' skills. And they will be available for local residents enrolled in adult education classes to augment the agency's existing computer lab.

Therrien said the mobile laptop program and the worksite computer training are models in the state.

Therrien, Gary Perlson, director of the SAD 58 Adult Education Department, and Paul Brown, SAD 9's community education coordinator, met with Judkins at the bank on Monday to accept the gift.

"Adult education and the Franklin County Community College Network are removing obstacles for area residents and businesses to be competitive in the 21st Century economy," Perlson said. "For local people, these barriers have been cost, distance and access to technology and training."

SAD 9 encompasses Farmington, Chesterville, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Temple, Vienna, Weld and Wilton. SAD 58 includes Kingfield, Eustis, Phillips and Strong.

Therrien said 20 laptops are being purchased to start. Students borrowing the units can buy them at the end of the course with the money used to buy more units.

A recent survey of Franklin County business owners asked what skills they needed workers to have. Many pointed to upgraded technology skills but said they didn't have the resources to train employees on their own, Therrien said.

That launched the idea for the mobile laptop program. To train the trainers, the agency was awarded a $12,500 grant from the Maine Adult Rural Technology Initiative.

"The missing piece was the hardware," Therrien said.

Information on registration for the fall classes through the Franklin County Community College Network, scholarships and on the agency's college readiness program, calls SAD 9 Adult Ed at 778-3460 or SAD 58 at 678-2455, e-mail at fcabe@msln.net or stop in at the office at 108 Fairbanks Road, Farmington.

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com