Across Ohio there are places that have easy access to high-speed internet at speeds that allow people to browse the internet, meet with a healthcare provider, run a small business, and learn and work from home. The pandemic made starkly visible a creeping truth about broadband: Access denied is opportunity denied.
Even prior to the pandemic, there was a need to renew an emphasis on infrastructure development and create a program understanding the importance of broadband. The pandemic forced a transformation to online webinars that were molded into this program.
Up to one million Ohioans do not have access to high-speed internet. To try to make more people aware of this situation, Community Development partnered with BroadbandOhio and others to offer a 12-week course on developing a strategic plan for broadband infrastructure in their county.
The first cohort consisted of 11 (of eighty-eight counties) that heard from professionals that shared their knowledge on applying for grants, surveying households, and collaborating with providers. At the end of the program, each county created a strategic plan for their county broadband. The strategic plan that was created can now be used as part of any application process to apply for federal and state dollars.
Participant feedback:
This program has taught me the value of creating a specific strategic plan devoted to broadband. We now have a plan to go after state and federal
grants – Angela Hamberg, Shelby County Regional Planning Executive Director.
For more information, visit the BroadbandOhio Accelerator Project page:
https://comdev.osu.edu/programs/economic-development/broadbandohio-accelerator-project