NEW ORLEANS – ASI Federal Credit Union has helped the city get one step closer to having a National Arts and Technology Center here. The Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans has been selected as one of six replication sites across the country for a National Arts and Technology Center. The Centers will be modeled after the nationally acclaimed Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in Pittsburgh. The New Orleans Center will be an after-school, arts-based education and workforce development program for at-risk high school students and underemployed adults. ASI FCU has donated $150,000 to secure funding for the first year of a four-year feasibility study, which is required to make the project a reality. Following the credit union's leadership, the City of New Orleans agreed to pledge funds and ASI FCU, together with the Community Arts Center for New Orleans, is supporting state appropriations legislation which would fund the remaining cost of the feasibility study as well as the first three years of the center's daily operations. Nationwide, existing Manchester Craftsmen's Guild programs have resulted in 80% of high school kids enrolled in the program matriculating to college and 100% of adults enrolled in the workforce development program attaining employment after completion of the program.