Community Development professionals recently completed a rural economic development innovation plan for the Buckeye Hills (Noble, Monroe, Perry, Morgan, Washington, Hocking, Athens, and Meigs) region in southeast Ohio. The goal of the USDA grant funded project was to serve small businesses and enhance the region’s e-connectivity and digital inclusion efforts.
As a result of the plan, Community Development Educators will work with local communities to:
- focus on assisting Stage 0, 1, and 2 companies which provide 71,083 jobs in the region.
- focus on E-connectivity and broadband availability, as well as strategies to make progress in the digital skill and access to devices.