New Educator Brings People Online in Marathon County

Mike Theiss, Wausau-area Broadband Coordinator

Mike Theiss, Wausau-area Broadband Coordinator

Wausau—Mike Theiss recently joined the Marathon County UW-Extension office as a Broadband Coordinator/Instructor. Theiss will be working with public and private partners across Marathon County to maximize the use of broadband to improve the area economy and quality of life for residents.

Connecting Marathon County to dedicated high speed internet (or, broadband) is vital to the health of Marathon County communities, promoting economic growth and development, expanding educational opportunities, enhancing public safety and health care access and improving efficiency of government services.

I am excited about the prospect of enhancing employment opportunities and the competitiveness of Marathon County businesses in this depressed economy, and improving educational opportunities for the citizens of Marathon County,” said Theiss.

Theiss will work in collaboration with community partners including the Workforce Development Center, The Neighbor’s Place, the Wausau Area Hmong Association and the Marathon County library system providing free access to computers and internet, free trainings and open lab times with assistance on a range of computer skills for everyday living. Theiss’ position is funded by the ARRA-funded Building Community Capacity through Broadband (BCCB) project led by the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

For more information on the BCCB project, visit the website (http://broadband.uwex.edu), or check out the videos on broadband in education, the community, health care, B2B environments, job creation and more at http://www.youtube.com/wibroadband1.