June 10, 2004
A new initiative is veering the communication highway through St. Thomas and Elgin County.
Primary funding derived from Connect Ontario: Broadband Regional Access (COBRA) initiative and Broadband for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND) has expanded the broadband infrastructure to encompass St. Thomas and Elgin County. This initiative was made possible through Elgin Community Future Development Corporation, which in turn fostered the creation of Elginconnects: a consortium of local stakeholders throughout St. Thomas and the Elgin County.
“Elginconnects began 3 years ago and required only 6 months of rallying the communities towards the cause,” says Donna Lunn, Elginconnects Co-ordinator.
The COBRA/BRAND initiative has shrunk the telecommunications gap between rural and urban communities. To date, the instalment of affordable, high-speed telecommunications in rural regions has been viewed as a complete success. Specifically, the Elginconnects project which has already benefited, emergency workers, hospitals, education, business, residents and created 13 new full-time positions.
The ability for rural communities to offer reliable, high-speed internet will enable them to attract new investment, discourage migration of the youth and compete on a global platform. Furthermore, this investment has encouraged the communities to work together and prevent inefficiencies generated from sporadic investments. With these rural regions working side by side it is expected that this single technological improvement will significantly advance economic development.
“Giving the Elgin County an internet presence has made the county more attractive to tourist because they quickly research events, lodging and how to get here,” says Lunn.
The Elginconnects program was the first of 4 Ontario projects to commence. Through this initiative 18 Elgin communities, including 3 First Nations communities, were given access to high-speed internet. Improving communication within these communities has broken down geographical barriers and strengthened community ties. Access to the information highway will allow: farmers to partake in new online programs, such as the Model Farm Program or “virtual farming”; doctors at St.Thomas-Elgin General Hospital will be able to quickly interact with specialists; and education facilities will be able to equip today’s youth with the necessary skills of tomorrow.
“The internet allows for quick easy access to residence for they can pay bills, e-mail and stay on top of the issues going on in their community,” says Lunn.
The benefits seen from the Elginconnects project would not have been possible without the unique partnership established by all three levels of government, the public and private businesses. These three groups formed a unique partnership in which enabled them to work together and fund the national initiative.
Funding for Elginconnects has been one of the highlights to the project. Through efforts on all levels Elginconnects has received funding from every organization approached. Recently they have just acquired their final grant of $650, 488 from MP Gar Knuston of Elgin-London-Middlesex this grant will ensure completion of the project within one years time. In total this project has raised $4.8 million to accomplish its mandate.