1. Getting Rural VA Connected: 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

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: Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

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

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

8. Technology Assessments and Master Plans AAssessment based on the Computer System Policy Project (CSPP) Readiness guide IIdentified needs and goals IIdentified technology solutions alternatives RRecommended solutions that appear to be most applicable hhttp://top.bev.net/tamp Getting Rural VA Connected: Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

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

15. A Special Page for our Kids…

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

17. Meaning, continued… Getting Rural VA Connected: Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future

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

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

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

21. Connected to each other… Connected to the WORLD!!! Shang hai Buena Vista Newto wn St. Stephens Stevens ville Getting Rural VA Connected: Getting Rural VA Connected: A Vision for the Future We invite you to“CLICK ON” www.kqinfotrail.net and “visit” this unique community resource!!!

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