The document announces the NC Digital Government Summit to take place on September 1, 2011 about broadband and economic development in North Carolina. It discusses how broadband can serve as an effective model for technology-based economic development (TBED) in rural areas like Rockingham County. Broadband access has helped fuel business creation, job growth, and improved economic outcomes through entrepreneurship programs and technology training initiatives supported by rural broadband.

1. NC Digital Government Summit
`
Broadband & Economic Development in NC
September 1, 2011
Page 1

2. TBED?
• So what is TBED?
• Do “normal” people know what it means?
• Is broadband really a good TBED model?
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3. Current Employment Environment
Rockingham County Average Annual Unemployment Rate
16.0
13.9
14.0
12.9
RCBTC Launch
12.0
Mark starts to
10.0
8.9 think Jane has
8.0 7.7
8.0 7.4 suckered him!
7.0
6.6
6.2
5.9
6.0
4.8
4.0
2.0 Let the Good Times Roll!
0.0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Annual Unemployment Rate (%)
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4. Shifting NC Economy
Page 4

5. Change Must Be Embraced
• As new industries develop
– Expect U.S.-based manufacturing to be short-term
– As manufacturing is systematized
• Companies seek cheap labor
– Requires us to be able to:
• Innovate
• Test the Market
• Scale Operations
QUICKLY!
• Improve Product
• Cannibalize Product
• Repeat
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6. Definition of Economic Development
• The process of stimulating private investment
through business attraction, creation, retention
and expansion (A.C.R.E.) activities.
– Source: NC Economic Development Administration
• Save My Home
– Source: RCBTC
With Economic Development
Without Economic Development
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7. Definition of TBED
Save My Home…
Using Technology Where & When
It Makes Sense…
And It Almost Always Makes Sense!
Source: RCBTC
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8. Why is ED or TBED Necessary?
• Creative Destruction
• Economic Cycles
• Growing Pains
• Improved Processes = Fewer Employees
• Automation/Technology = Fewer Employees
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9. Emerging Development
Strategies in Rural Areas
• Entrepreneurship & Self Employment
• Amenity-based Tourism (nature/culture)
• Care for the Elderly (longevity/silver economy)
• High Value Agriculture (local food)
• Renewable Energy
Source: “Driving the Great Rural Renaissance: Regional Rural Innovation
Charles W. Fluharty, President & CEO Rural Policy Research Institute; April 23, 2010
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10. Broadband as Effective TBED in
Rockingham County “in the trenches”
Gas
e-Business Training Eggs
ARRA Broadband Call Center
Cows
MBA
ED BOA Poles
Kids
Rural Broadband
REDI
Entrepreneur-Focused Technology-Enabled Future-Driven
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11. As You Embed TBED…
Do you fake it till you make it?
Measure it till they treasure it!
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12. Business & Job Creation
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13. Outputs/Traffic Counts
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14. Trend of Total
Mentoring Services
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15. Distribution of Mentoring Efforts
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16. Trend of New Mentoring Clients
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17. Trend of Client Loyalty
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18. Business & Job Creation
by Quarter
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19. Business Mentoring
by Quarter
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20. Measure It Till They Treasure It
Keep the
Bosses Happy! Treasure Found!
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21. Let’s Go Save Our Home!!!
Entrepreneur-Focused
Technology-Enabled
Future-Driven
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