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What is GEAR Up?
Launched in 1998 as a national initiative, GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a program of the U.S. Department of Education and currently provides $200 million in five-year grants for the formation of partnerships between colleges, universities, high-risk middle schools, businesses, and community organizations. In 1999, Intermountain GEAR UP was formed as a collaborative effort between Southeast Community College in Kentucky, Mountain Empire Community College in Virginia, public schools in Harlan, Letcher, and Bell counties in Kentucky, and Wise County in Virginia, and finally between businesses and community partners in both Virginia and Kentucky.