Schoolcraft County Launches Technology Action Plan
MANISTIQUE (WWJ) -- Schoolcraft County unveiled its Technology Action Plan Wednesday at Manistique High School as part of its participation in Connect Michigan's Connected Community Engagement Program.
The Technology Action Plan sets general community-wide broadband connectivity goals to work toward that will support economic development and residential quality of life.
Download the Schoolcraft County Technology Action Plan at this link.
"The Connect Michigan program is fundamental to the community," said Dustin Denkins, interim director, Schoolcraft County Economic Development Corp. "Identifying our broadband assets allow the EDC to foster growth within Schoolcraft County."
The Connected Community Engagement Program supports the development of a comprehensive strategy for building a "connected" community by reviewing the technology landscape, developing regional partnerships, establishing local teams, and conducting a thorough community assessment of the broadband infrastructure.
Schoolcraft County's top goals from the new plan are to identify, map, and validate broadband demand, develop a digital literacy and low-cost broadband program in Schoolcraft County, develop a county technology awareness program, and develop social media and website development classes for the local businesses.
The new plan gives the community step-by-step action items to make sure that the goals are met. The plan will also support future broadband expansion and programs that will ensure the community maintains widespread Internet access, adoption, and use.
"Tom Stephenson and the Connect Michigan team have been instrumental in facilitating the creation of a comprehensive Broadband Internet Access, Adoption, and Use Plan," said Alexander Kofsky, business service consultant, Michigan Works! The Job Force Board. "The Connect MI plan identifies where we are today and sets the stage for future surveys, projects, and service updates for Schoolcraft County."
Connected Nation developed theConnected Community Engagement Program to help guide a community through anassessment of its overall broadband and technology status. Connected certified communities have measurably demonstrated their proficiency for effective Access, Adoption, and Use of broadband-supported technologies. Connected Nation through its partners provides a national platform for recognizing those communities that excel across these important benchmarks. Funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, this effort is part of the State Broadband Initiative. More at www.connectednation.org/get-connected.
As the designated entity for broadband mapping and planning in the state of Michigan, Connect Michigan is a public-private partnership between the Michigan Public Service Commission and Connected Nation to work with local governments, businesses, and citizens in the goal of increasing broadband service in the Michigan's underserved areas. For more information about what Connect Michigan is doing to accelerate technology in Michigan's communities, visit www.connectmi.org.
