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Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future. Pamela D. Gibson Alinda T. Uzel. CDS 38 th Annual Conference Communities That Click:  Individuals, Families and Organizations Working Together June 25-28, 2006 St. Louis, MO. A Partnership.

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Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

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  1. Getting Rural VA Connected:A Vision for the Future Pamela D. Gibson Alinda T. Uzel CDS 38th Annual Conference Communities That Click:  Individuals, Families and Organizations Working TogetherJune 25-28, 2006St. Louis, MO

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

  3. Counties involved Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

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

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

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

  7. Virtual Business Incubator • Web site • Two permanent email addresses for group use and web mail access • A broadcast mailing list • Web Builder Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

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

  9. King and Queen County, VA A Community that Clicks Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

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

  11. Putting it in place - locally • Pre-Promotion • News articles • Flyers • Handouts • Letters & Inserts • Community Meetings • Recruitment • Feedback • More Community Meetings Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

  12. A Special Page for our Kids…

  13. 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) Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

  14. 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 RappahannockIndian Tribe to develop a clean business to support the building of a conference center, museum and Native American Village experience for tourists. • More Positive Attitude and Outlook Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

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

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

  17. Maintaining the Momentum… • Consistent, Continuous Promotion • Funding to develop infrastructure • Helping local government officials to understand how this can impact economic development from within • Attracting “new blood” to the process Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

  18. Buena Vista Shanghai Newtown St. Stephens Stevensville Connected to each other… Connected to theWORLD!!! We invite you to“CLICK ON” www.kqinfotrail.net and “visit” this unique community resource!!! Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

  19. For more information, contact: • pgibson57@gmail.com • auzel@vt.edu • Info on Total Project & Individual counties • http://top.bev.net Thank you for your participation!!! Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

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