LOUISVILLE, KY – Dataseam, a Louisville-based education and workforce development organization, announces today receiving a $3,500,000 appropriation from the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly. These funds will continue ongoing initiatives led by Dataseam directed at mainly rural and underrepresented public students in K-12 districts statewide.
Dataseam was organized in 2003 to grow Kentucky’s innovation and commercialization of higher education research through increased computing infrastructure and developing the workforce necessary to support and utilize it. Through a collection of economic development grants, appropriations, and competitive federal awards since 2005, Dataseam has grown to 55 Kentucky districts representing nearly 40% of the Commonwealth’s public K-12 students.
Dataseam provides student workstations supporting advanced student curriculum. These computers are earned by district participation in teacher and technology team training and certification, including a U.S. Department of Labor-approved Registered Apprenticeship for Information Technology focused on grades 11-12. Local training investments improve the workforce of the largest employer in most Kentucky counties – public education.
Earned student computers are linked statewide in the DataseamGrid, providing dual utilization of the same public dollar. This supercomputing infrastructure helps identify more effective cancer drugs for the University of Louisville’s Brown Cancer Center at a fraction of the time, expense, and creates an increased federal funding competitiveness for Kentucky. The DataseamGrid has been integral in 90 patent applications, 45 issued to date, discovery of two cancer drugs entering human clinical trials, and over $65 million in additional federal funding having a $162.5 million economic impact for the Commonwealth.
The University of Louisville funds the Dataseam Scholars program, providing four-year awards to students graduating from K-12 districts actively supporting cancer research with the workstations they earn. Many of these first-generation college students finish studies debt-free pursuing degrees in engineering, technology, health sciences, and STEM-education disciplines. The University of Louisville, designated as Kentucky’s premier metropolitan research institution, has awarded millions of dollars to Dataseam students. Additionally, Dataseam supports key initiatives at Morehead State University, Western Kentucky University, and the Governors School for Entrepreneurs.
“Along with the rest of the Dataseam ecosystem partners – universities, K-12 schools, and students, we are grateful for the continued support of the Kentucky General Assembly,” stated Brian Gupton, Dataseam. “There is much work to be done. This appropriation allows all of us to continue efforts growing the workforce necessary for the next-generation Kentucky economy.”
Download a PDF of this press release HERE.
