15-county regional commission embarked on plan to optimize technology use in Northwest Georgia

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The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission is moving forward with a program to identify and expand the 15-county region’s digital resources for business, industry and education.

The board developed a Digital Region 1 plan last summer through a consulting firm as a blueprint for making the most of existing infrastructure by investing in software and the area workforce.

“One of the main focuses is the assessment of services to key businesses, industries, healthcare providers, schools, and local governments,” said Julie Meadows, NWGRC Director of Regional Planning.

The plan is divided into three strategies spread out over four years, according to Deana Perry with the regional commission’s Community and Economic Development Office.

“As an economic tool, you can enhance your healthcare providers, enhance your school systems, and can offer high-speed broadband like other utilities,” Perry said. “This plan is a way to optimize all of that.”

Representatives from several different sectors, including arts and entertainment, education, manufacturing, and economic development, took part in developing the Digital Region 1 plan.

Some of the local groups who were involved are Floyd County Schools, Berry College, Floyd Medical Center, Redmond Regional Medical Center, Harbin Clinic, International Paper and Southeastern Mills.

A call for proposals to implement the plan ended March 30 with a response from one firm, Greg Laudeman Consulting out of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Perry said there’s no cost-figure attached to the proposal. The next step will be coming up with a contract, which could happen before the end of May.

The first strategy focuses on ways to promote and support the digital infrastructure that is already available in areas across Northwest Georgia. It is scheduled to be completed June 30, 2016.

“One of the objectives of Strategy 1 is to bring on technological champions, and use their experience and expertise to identify what can be done to enhance usage in the different sectors,” Perry said.

Other parts of Strategy 1 will focus on developing best technological practices for area organizations, and assessing the demand for and supply of workers with digital skills — particularly for industrial automation and Internet technologies.

Strategy 2 will look at the possibilities for the region in the new digital economy, while Strategy 3 is about building partnerships to help create critical technology assets.

Perry said the goal of the DR1 plan is not about expanding the digital infrastructure of the region, but to optimize the connectivity that already exists.

“Digital economy is all around us, but we’re looking at applications in all resources,” Perry said. “This is an excellent economic development tool.”

The Regional Commission acts as a resource and grant conduit for state and federal programs in the 15 northwestern counties — Floyd, Chattooga, Bartow, Gordon, Polk, Walker, Catoosa, Dade, Paulding, Haralson, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens.

Source: Rome News

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