Bridges to Digital Excellence to expand reach into Indiana

Bridge to Digital Excellence will be spreading its three-pronged work from Benton Harbor into South Bend, Ind.

The company, an e-cycler, helps the environment, provides jobs for the chronically unemployed, and offers its product at a low cost to those in need.

The nonprofit also became an umbrella for five different operations in 2009. It started out donating computers to those who could not afford them and providing discounted IT services for local nonprofits. Now it serves 17 nonprofits, including the Boys and Girls Club and the Cornerstone Alliance, among others.

The move into Indiana came after BDE representatives were invited to be guests for WNIT’s show “Economic Outlook.” Between takes of the show the host Phil D’Amico asked multiple times, “what it would take to bring your program to South Bend area?” Within a month BDE had secured a location.

BDE South Bend officially will open for business at 3702 W. Sample Street on Tuesday Oct. 5. The public and businesses can drop off equipment from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. BDE also is located at 155 W. Main Street in Benton Harbor. Those who want to make drop offs are asked to call 574-208-6650 for more details. BDE will recycle almost anything with a cord or battery, although it cannot accept any items containing Freon unless it has been removed.

BDE also offers a free membership to its Responsible Recycler Program, a service that includes free data purging or hard drive destruction, and helps companies host  electronics recycling drives for employees. BDE now has 57 Responsible Recycler members including Lakeland Regional Health Systems, AEP Cook Nuclear plant and Four Winds Casino.

“To have an organization like BDE decide to open a location in South Bend is such a huge asset to our community,” says Phil D’Amico, Director of Business Growth for The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County. “All that they stand for, as it relates to their focus on the environment, employing individuals who need a second chance in life, and for assisting those individuals who are most vulnerable, is everything this community stands for.”

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave
Source: Trina Bailey,  Bridge to Digital Excellence