Conference Looks At Technology in Southern Ohio

Bringing high-speed Internet access to our region and training students for high-tech jobs. Those were the themes this week at an economic development conference at Ohio University's southern campus in Ironton.

Congressman Ted Strickland told area business people, Internet providers and educators that Appalachia Ohio cannot afford to miss out on broadband technology.

"If we do not take action now, a few years from now, we will be very, very sad that we have allowed this technology to escape us," Strickland said.

Area business leaders voiced similar concerns. June Holley of ACENet in Athens say it's also important to make sure there's a work force educated to work in high-tech jobs.

"Most of the schools are starting to have what they call computer classes, but there really isn't the kind of training going on that would help them become involved in e-commerce," Holley said.

Holley says this fall the Ohio Department of Education is helping to implement an E-commerce and entrepreneurship program in seven high schools in Athens, Meigs and Vinton counties.

The conference, so-sponsored by Ohio Congressman Ted Strickland (D-6) and Ohio University, brought together educators, economic development officials, business leaders and Internet providers from across southern Ohio.

The morning session focused on the importance of broadband access and helping local communities find ways to get wired. The panel included representatives of southern Ohio communities that already have high-speed Internet access. The session also featured representatives from a rural community in Washington state that is seeing economic growth from an investment in high-tech infrastructure.

The afternoon session included local and national education leaders, with an emphasis on helping local educators develop specific high-tech training goals and curriculum.