Northampton
The TOP programs in Northampton and Accomack Counties were formally merged with the Eastern Shore Virginia Portal in January 2004. Awareness of technology on the Eastern Shore is growing and public-private partnerships are being developed to make the best use of existing resources and avoid duplication. The Technology Assessment and Master Plan prepared by John Nichols of Virginia Tech will help businesses and government agencies move toward the goal of high speed Internet access for residents on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The unique accomplishments of the program in Northampton County and across the Eastern Shore are described below.
- The Take Charge process in Northampton County was effective in attracting some residents who previously had not participated in a community planning forum. The participants learned something new about their county and had generally positive reactions to the process. The issues and action steps identified through Take Charge were passed on to the Northampton Board of Supervisors.
- The partnership established between the Eastern Shore Virginia Portal and the Blacksburg Electronic Village has combined both resources and expertise to support economic growth and quality of life on the Eastern Shore. It has made possible a community network with a breadth and depth that surpasses what either could have achieved working alone. In its early development, the Eastern Shore Portal focused on business and economic matters. In the past year a Discussion Board was established to encourage community interchange and participation in local government and decision-making. A directory of community and service organizations, including faith-based groups, has been added to help meet the needs of youth and families. A community calendar keeps people aware of local educational, recreational, and service activities, and so enhances the quality of life on the Eastern Shore. Through a cooperative agreement, the BEV is hosting the Community Connections and Virtual Business Incubator programs that are helping community organizations and new businesses establish a web presence. Northampton County had one of the larger numbers of initial sign-ups for these programs (6), with one person registering for a Community Connections account and five people registering for a Virtual Business Incubator account. These numbers have now grown to four and ten, respectively.
- The bringing together of the Eastern Shore Portal and the TOP project has strengthened the partnership between Northampton and Accomack Counties. The Portal has a regional focus in serving both Northampton and Accomack and a joint approach to economic growth, the acquisition of resources, and the promotion of tourism benefits both counties. The merger of the Northampton and Accomack TLTs with the NFTF ensures that both counties will continue to have a voice in decisions relating to site content and policy.
- Establishing a community training model that included both Northampton and Accomack was another positive outcome of the project. Two workshop series, one focusing on e-business and the other on business management and entrepreneurship, drew participants from both Counties, making best use of the time contributed by busy speakers.
- New public and private partnerships have been forged that can support future economic initiatives for the region. Through the TOP project Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Blacksburg Electronic Village have joined with the Eastern Shore Community College, the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center, the Virginia Eastern Shore Economic Empowerment and Housing Corporation, and the Virginia Electronic Commerce and Technology Center in promoting community technology training and development.
- The Technology Assessment and Master Plan completed as part of the TOP project will be a valuable resource for the coalition working to bring broadband to all areas of the Eastern Shore. The Networked Future Task Force and the Blacksburg Electronic Village are participating in these efforts led by the Regional Partnership?s Broadband Initiative.