Thursday, March 21, 2002
Officials hope the enterprise will induce more young people to stay in the area.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County officials are seeking funding to assemble a high-tech computer network aimed at attracting new business to the area.
Commissioners agreed Wednesday to authorize the county to apply for a $500,000 grant to pay for the undertaking.
If obtained, the state-administered federal money would be used to create 16 sites in the county that would be tied into a fiber-optic cable network capable of transporting vast amounts of data, and video and voice transmissions.
Popular system: This so-called "broad-band" system is becoming increasingly popular in the business world, Eileen Dray-Bardon, director of the county job and family services department, told commissioners.
Businesses use broad-band to keep in touch with one another, and with customers, suppliers and affiliates.
Once the county creates the 16 broad-band sites in industrial parks and business centers, it would market the technology to businesses that would pay to use it, Dray-Bardon said.
County officials hope that businesses already in the county would use the system and that it also would attract new technologically advanced businesses to the area.
It would cost about $400,000 of the $500,000 being sought to create the 16 sites, yet to be chosen. County officials' goal is to have the system operational by June 2003.
The remaining $100,000 would be used to train unemployed and low-income people in the county for positions that would be needed by businesses using the broad-band technology. Commissioners said they like the proposal because it promotes business and would help keep young people who are interested in technology careers in the area.
The Governor's Office on Appalachia will be reviewing Columbiana County's applications and others being submitted by southern Ohio counties considered part of Appalachia.
A decision is expected in coming months.