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Facebook Awards WNCW Grant

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Facebook Awards WNCW Grant

A $10,000 grant from Facebook’s Forest City Data Center will help WNCW 88.7 preserve its music library for future generations.

The grant is part of $250,000 in awards Facebook made to local organizations as part of its Community Action Grant Program. The grants will be used for specific projects that use technology for community benefit; connect people online or off; improve education or promote local economic benefit.

“When we made our home in western North Carolina, we made a commitment to support and invest in our neighbors. One way we do that is through our local grants program,” said Keven McCammon, site manager at Facebook's Forest City Data Center. “We’re proud to work with these worthy organizations to help make a difference in the community and meet real, critical needs.”

The grant funds will provide equipment, software and technology to convert WNCW’s library into radio quality digital format for archival purposes. The entire project is expected to cost $56,000. There has been no other funding available for a project of this extent, which is critical in preserving the vast library of music obtained by the station in its 25 years of existence.

“We are proud to support WNCW’s mission to preserve the rich musical tradition of our region," said McCammon. “This project will ensure that future generations will have access to these wonderful resources."

WNCW 88.7 FM is a public radio station owned and operated by Isothermal Community College.

The station, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last month, is a nationally known leader in the Americana and Triple A, or adult album alternative, formats. The station’s eclectic music mix spans a wide variety of genres, but is typified by alternative rock and country, folk, blues, bluegrass, world music and jazz. Original programming ranges from a weekly sampling of bluegrass on “Goin’ across the Mountain” to explorations into Frank Zappa during “Frank on Friday.” Regional news is also highlighted each weekday in addition to National Public Radio’s Morning Edition.

WNCW 88.7’s main signal can be heard in parts of five states. The station also has translators in Boone, Charlotte and Greenville, S.C. In addition, WNCW broadcasts over the 90.7 frequency on WSIF FM in Wilkesboro.

WNCW’s mission and overall goal is to “advance the broadest education goals of Isothermal Community College through the operation of a full service, professional public radio station that encourages its audience to pursue a quest for lifelong learning.”  This project benefits the community and helps fulfill our mission through preservation, promotion, recognition and education of local and regional music, musicians, and culture.