Mission/Vision for Technology in our Community
I received a response from one of the participants of the November 4th meeting, Galen Crow, the Executive Director of ISU's Extended University and Director of Research and Sponsored Programs. He suggested we center our vision for Broadband Technology in the Bloomington Normal Community and McLean County using the following themes:
Primary Mission of the Broadband Initiative that seemed to come through: Increase economic development and quality of life through a cooperative community-based telecommunications infrastructure.
As far as unmet needs to be addressed to achieve the mission - these seemed to be the reoccurring items - not necessarily in priority order.
1. Lower than commercial costs for broadband to "small" businesses, startups, incubators. Goal is to stimulate job growth among existing small companies and hope to attract or grow new businesses.
2. Lower costs and universal access for all local schools. Goal is to improve quality of life in hopes of attracting quality workers - long term benefit of better prepared local workforce thru improved schools.
3. Free Internet access to disadvantaged individuals. Goal is improve quality of life and improve local workforce.
4. Broadband access to rural communities and individuals. Goal is to further develop and improve agricultural base but also to allow more tele-commuting - also to attract certain type of knowledge workers/businesses.
5. Create community/region planning process for technology/communications infrastructure. Goal is to continually monitor and improve based on technological advancements, environmental opportunities, and needs recognition.
Finally one caution as we move forward we need to examine our community assets, needs and desires -- and maybe not be so envious of Peoria Next. We should be envious of the fact they they seem to coordinate efforts better. But the Next project itself is the outcome of several circumstances unique to Peoria: 1) an underemployed skilled workforce, 2) willingness of Caterpillar to share patents off the shelf for commercialization. Our assets and challenges are different - and solutions and opportunities will likewise differ.
I would like to know what you all think of this. Is this a framework for moving forward? Submit your opinions here.
posted by BN ED Guy @ 7:49 AM
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