Computer lab will help close digital divide

By TIMES STAFF
Published August 15, 2007

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ST. PETERSBURG

Computer Mentors is opening a computer lab in St. Petersburg this month in an effort to close the gap between those who have regular access to technology and those who do not.

The Pinellas County campus will open Monday at 1123 22nd St. S. For now, classes will be held Monday evenings for students ages 14-18. In a few months, instruction also will be available to adults on Saturdays.

The Pinellas center is supported by a $25,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation.

Computer Mentors provides computer training, information access and skills development for inner-city youth affected by the digital divide.

In addition to the St. Petersburg location, there also are Computer Mentors labs in East Tampa and Plant City. For more information, call (813) 760-4086.

ST. PETERSBURG

Advertising firm to absorb competitor

Paradise Advertising and Marketing is absorbing a Tampa competitor when HLA Group closes and moves its staff across the bay. HLA Group was founded in 1974, and Paradise is celebrating its fifth year in business, though both are run by people with decades in the market.

The principals of the two firms met earlier this year and decided that their overall growth would be best served by working together. Paradise gets to enhance services for some of its new clients, like the Southwest Florida International Airport and American Momentum Bank. HLA had Tampa International Airport as a client, but with the change, TIA must hold a new competition for its business.