Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

Getting Rural VA Connected:Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

Pamela D. Gibson Alinda T. Uzel

CDS 38th Annual ConferenceCommunities That Click: Individuals, Families and Organizations Working TogetherJune 25-28, 2006St. Louis, MO

A Partnership

Technical Opportunities Program (TOP): US Department of Commerce

Virginia Cooperative Extension The Electronic Village of Virginia

Tech and the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia (BEV)

Seven rural counties across the Commonwealth of Virginia


Counties involved


A Multi-faceted process

Grassroots community planning and visioning (Take Charge)

Train local and area Extension agents

Organize citizen teams Technology training and

development for citizens and local leaders


The Community Network

Community Web site designed with assistance from BEV

Civic groups and micro-businesses given opportunity for their own, fully-featured Web sites


Fully-featured Web sites

E-mail accounts and mailing lists Discussion forums for civic

discussions Interactive calendars Interactive directories for business,

civic groups, and the arts Virtual business incubator program

for home-based and small businesses


Virtual Business Incubator

Web site Two permanent email addresses for

group use and web mail access A broadcast mailing list Web Builder


Technology Assessments and Master Plans

Assessment based on the Computer System Policy Project (CSPP) Readiness guide

Identified needs and goals Identified technology solutions

alternatives Recommended solutions that appear to

be most applicable

http://top.bev.net/tamp


King and Queen County, VA

A Community that Clicks


King & Queen County, VA

100% Rural No organized towns or cities No main source of information – long

standing identified problem

Lacking infrastructure for development Only Wells and Septic Systems Terrain not conducive to efficient wireless Majority of county isolated geographically


Putting it in place - locally

Pre-Promotion News articles Flyers Handouts Letters & Inserts

Community Meetings Recruitment Feedback More Community Meetings


A Special Page for our Kids…

What has this meant to King & Queen?

Community Working toward a Common Vision Encouragement Communication Community Service Economic Development Support for local Businesses – “Keep

Our $$$ in the County” School Involvement (The Tiger Trail)


Meaning, continued… Development of new businesses

Partnering with Regional Agencies Agri-Tourism Conference Workshops on Developing a Business Plan and Marketing

This year alone Favor Farm Courthouse Market and Deli Creative Designs Trail Webber A Special Occasion MOST RECENT – opportunity to work with the MOST RECENT – opportunity to work with the

RappahannockRappahannock Indian Tribe to develop a clean Indian Tribe to develop a clean business to support the building of a conference business to support the building of a conference center, museum and Native American Village center, museum and Native American Village experience for tourists.experience for tourists.

More Positive Attitude and Outlook


Building on Strengths in King & Queen

Pristine rural nature Support for schools Strong Church Community Agriculture basis for Economy Natural Resources

Rivers Dragon Run Swamp Native American Cultural Center


Continuing the Connections

Increased citizen participation Home-based and small business start-ups Additional sites Health and Legal Resources added to

existing sites Local Economic growth through support

for local business Develop agri-tourism Home-based and Micro-business


Maintaining the Momentum…

Consistent, Continuous PromotionConsistent, Continuous Promotion Funding to develop infrastructure Funding to develop infrastructure Helping local government officials to Helping local government officials to

understand how this can impact understand how this can impact economic development from withineconomic development from within

Attracting “new blood” to the Attracting “new blood” to the processprocess


Connected to each other…Connected to the WORLD!!!

Shanghai

Buena Vista

Newtown

St. Stephens

Stevensville


We invite you to“CLICK ON”

www.kqinfotrail.net

and “visit” this unique community resource!!!

For more information, contact:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Info on Total Project & Individual counties http://top.bev.net

Thank you for your Thank you for your participation!!!participation!!!


Documents

Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future