While reading a post on Daily Yonder: Keeping it Rural, I am reminded of why we have worked not only to increase broadband access, but also to increase broadband utilization. Sure, access to technology improves educational opportunities (check out http://www.highereducation.hickmantn.org/), it provides entertainment, and it increases our connection to information on our government and community.
However, the most immediate reward comes from technology utilization that benefits entrepreneurs in starting and growing a business. The post, “The Rural Broadband Challenge: Use It“, is sort of “if we build it, they will come” — if we build out rural broadband, business growth will come. However, we need to help growth by training entrepreneurs and supporting them. Through things like the entrepreneur workshop series that begins tomorrow, the http://www.business.hickmantn.org/ website, and other workshops like value-added agriculture products and tourism business, HCECDA and regional partners are trying to empower our deep pool of people with marketable skills and ideas to become successful entrepreneurs.
