Presentation to Virginia's Legislative Black Caucus demonstrating how government, university and technology-based economic development programs can be used to create jobs and address minority health disparities in underserved communities

1. Virginia Broadband
Leveraging Government, University and
Technology-Based Economic Development Programs
to Address Rural & Underserved Communities
Engaging HBCUs And Minority Suppliers
To Address The Digital Divide
Strategic Concepts, LLC

2. Virginia’s Digital Divide
• Challenge #1:
– “The growing geographically imposed digital divide as many rural
communities continue to lack access to affordable broadband
infrastructure.”
Virginia’s Broadband Roundtable 6/2009
• Challenge #2
– Virginia covers 39,594 square miles, with a 2008 estimated population
of 7,769,089 people (USDA-ERS, 2008)
• average per-capita income $41,727*
• poverty rate of 9.1% in urban areas*
• 16% have not completed highschool+
– 1,107,452 people living in rural Virginia
• rural per-capita income lagged at $27,579*
• poverty rate of 14.9% *
• 31.7% did not complete highschool
*2007 Data
+2000 Data

3. Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Districts
Delegate
Senator

4. Verizon Coverage Areas
Map Legend
Broadband Coverage Non-Broadband Coverage
Broadband & V CAST Enhanced Services
Extended Broadband & V CAST Extended Enhanced Services

5. AT&T Coverage Areas
Map Legend
3G Coverage Areas

6. Enterprise Zone Analysis

7. Virginia Broadband Coverage Areas CIT

8. Resource Mix
Government University Industry Partnership
Funding Rural Utility National Telecommunications
Agencies Service Infrastructure Administration
Educational
Institutions
Minority Strategic Broadband
Business Alliance
• Program Management
• Project management
• Contract Management
• Vendor Selection
Economic Virginia Small Business Virginia Department of USDA Rural
Development Finance Authority Minority Enterprise Development

9. Project Investments
• Computer Centers
• Distance Learning
• Community Centers
• Telecommunications Engineering Training Program
• Minority supplier development goals
• Telemedicine Training Program
• Rural Health Objectives

10. Incentivizing Technology-Based
Economic Development
• Consider legislation redefining
"qualified business" for purposes of
investments eligible for the
subordinated debt and equity tax
credit.
• Collaborate with Virginia rural
caucus to develop programs that
are community-driven or “bottom-
up.”
• Develop financial incentives to
support infrastructure sustainment
and cost containment for rural
operations: target both consumers
and small businesses
• Business incubators for minority
supplier development

11. Virginia Rural Center
• Promote a critical mass of
infrastructure, technology,
financial and human capital
necessary to support the
economic and social
ecosystem of rural Virginia.
• Increase funding to VRA to
support rural infrastructure
programs.

12. Virginia HBCU Broadband
Strategic Broadband
Alliance
• Contract Management
• Program Management
• Project management
• Regulatory Compliance
• Vendor Selection
Broadband service
Telemedicine services Community centers
Training programs

13. DISCUSSIONS AND QUESTIONS
Joseph Curtis MSc, PhD, PMP
jcurtis@stratconcept.com