Northeast Ohio
Building a Broadband Economy
Known more for steel than technology, old economy than new, Northeast Ohio is driving a globally competitive, new economy through a coordinated, sustained effort by the private, philanthropic, and public sectors. Investing in the talent, innovation and infrastructure needed to succeed in an information-based economy has become a priority for the region. And to realize a successful community technology program requires an emphasis on the platform that the 21st century’s information-based economy is built – broadband networks. Northeast Ohio’s long-term investment in broadband and other infrastructure that fosters talent, innovation and entrepreneurship has allowed the region to leap ahead of other, similar “old economy” regions to transform its future, enabling it to excel in the new, global economy.
Northeast Ohio’s approach to success in the broadband economy is built on two interlinked core beliefs:
- In the global economy, regions, not cities, are the defining economic unit.
- Regional economic development requires an inclusive public-private partnership that embraces and leverages the region’s distinctive and diverse assets.
A leader in developing Northeast Ohio’s new economy is OneCommunity, a nonprofit technology organization that builds community partnerships and develops innovative applications of information technologies to address social priorities. OneCommunity operates a community broadband network – one of the largest and fastest in the world – that connects nearly 1,000 public and nonprofit institutions across the region, and this network provides a platform for collaboration and innovation to drive economic development. Northeast Ohio’s business and philanthropic sectors have successfully forged a partnership with the public sector, educators, research institutions and others, working together to:
- Inspire and accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship
Northeast Ohio is leveraging existing industry strengths, including fuel cells, liquid crystal displays, nanomaterials and biotechnology, and its technology infrastructure to attract business and outside funding to support the region’s budding innovation culture. Collaboration made possible by the OneCommunity network encourages education institutions, health care providers, governments, arts & cultural organizations and other nonprofit groups to develop new programs and services that better serve citizens. - Improve the capabilities and capacity of the region’s workforce
Along with building the infrastructure and programs that define a connected community, Northeast Ohio is also committed to developing a workforce that is prepared to contribute to the region’s high-tech fields and succeed in the global economy. This initiative has three elements: creating enhanced, 21st-century learning opportunities for students; offering more resources for those already in the workforce to elevate their education level and tech literacy; and promoting high-tech careers to college students while encouraging them to explore the opportunities available in Northeast Ohio. A number of initiatives developed through community partnerships and augmented by broadband connectivity address these factors. OneCommunity is working with regional institutions to bring the best digital content and opportunities for distance learning to Northeast Ohio schools via fiber connections. In addition, local colleges, universities and library systems are developing programs to bring job training resources to workers. Nonprofits are also studying IT and other high-tech professions in Northeast Ohio to determine needs and how to prepare the region’s workforce to meet those needs. - Foster more civic engagement
Building on services enabled by a robust technology infrastructure, Northeast Ohio has focused on getting citizens more involved in government and the democratic process. Strategic technology guidance and resources combined with the involvement of a variety of civic organizations allowed thousands of citizens to engage in an initiative that recorded citizen opinions to help drive an economic development agenda. In addition, government services enhanced through technology keep residents better connected to the people and policies that shape their lives. - Connect public and nonprofit institutions to each other and the globe via OneCommunity and other broadband infrastructure
OneCommunity is one of Northeast Ohio’s greatest assets, empowering a stellar collection of public and nonprofit institutions to collaborate and offer better government services, enhanced educational opportunities, expanded access to health care resources, and other services. Instead of investing resources in a community technology strategy that has failed elsewhere, Northeast Ohio’s leaders developed a sustainable, universally beneficial approach that makes the region a model for communities worldwide. - Promote the region to the globe as a distinctive destination for personal and business growth
By highlighting success in broadband deployment and high-profile industries, and armed with a new marketing strategy that touts the collective appeal of the region, Northeast Ohio is getting the word out about the innovative personal and professional opportunities, 21st-century programs and services, and innovative spirit that are driving economic development.
With the assistance of regional and global visionaries, Northeast Ohio has built a world-class ultra-broadband community network and accompanying applications to dramatically improve the effectiveness of the public and nonprofit sectors, and to drive economic development in partnership with the private sector. Northeast Ohio is using that network – and hundreds of millions of dollars in research and commercialization investments – to create the next wave of companies that will produce innovative products and services to meet the demands of the global market. The region has also put into place an array of educational and workforce development initiatives to instill a culture of lifelong learning in our region, while engaging residents in an ambitious civic process that will help set the direction for future economic development efforts. The world is realizing that Northeast Ohio is an intelligent community that appreciates the role of digital infrastructure as a platform for economic development and innovation, as evidenced by Northeast Ohio’s designation as a Top 7 Intelligent Community in 2008.
Source: “Building a Sustainable Broadband Economy in Northeast Ohio,” 2006