Redlands, California- ESRI, the leading developer of geographic information system (GIS) software and spatial solutions for local government, and Xplore Technologies, an innovative manufacturer of rugged mobile computing systems, announce the launch of the 2008 ESRI and Xplore Technologies Mobile Government Demonstration Project Grant Program.

The goal of this grant series is to foster innovative approaches to solving government problems through the combined use of GIS, GPS, wireless, and server technology.  Projects must demonstrate how GIS is a mission-critical technology in delivering government services as well as how mobile GIS solutions will result in increased efficiencies and/or effectiveness in daily efforts.

The current Mobile Government Demonstration Project Grant Program offers hardware, software, and training grants totaling $95,950. The ESRI and Xplore Technologies grants will be awarded to a total of 10 state, regional, or local governments within the United States.

Applications for the ESRI and Xplore Technologies Mobile Government Demonstration Project Grant Program will be accepted beginning July 14, 2008. The official deadline for all submissions is 5:00 p.m., Pacific time, October 17, 2008. Awards will be announced November 7, 2008. Completed grant projects must be documented and submitted to ESRI no later than May 1, 2009.

To learn more about the ESRI and Xplore Technologies Mobile Government Demonstration Project Grant Program and other grants sponsored by ESRI, visit the ESRI Grants Web site atwww.esri.com/grants.

Visitwww.esri.comfor more information.