UNH Cooperative Extension

Broadband Internet: Grow Your Economy

Find out how in under 60 seconds

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What is Economic Development

The main goal of economic development is improving the economic well-being of a community through efforts that entail job creation, job retention, business expansion & attraction, tax base expansions, wealth creation, and improved quality of life.

All economic development starts with the desire of local people to improve their economic conditions.

- GettyburgTimes.com, February 2014

Industries Rely on Broadband

Businesses in the United States today are utilizing websites to expand their footprint in the marketplace, conduct online sales, and expand their revenues dramatically.

Broadband Use

≈ 75% Internet Reliance Nearly 3/4 of U.S. businesses use broadband (in 2011)

Source:
Connected Nation 2011 Business Technology Assessment
Broadband and Revenue

3X the
Revenuefor U.S. businesses that use the internet vs. those that don’t

Source:
Connected Nation 2011 Business Technology Assessment
Connect with Customers

≈ 66%
Customer Outreach Nearly 2/3 of home-based businesses use the Internet to stay in touch with customers

Source:
Connected Nation 2011 Business Technology Assessment

Jobs depending on broadband and information and communications technology will grow by 25% between 2008 and 2018 – 2.5% faster than other industries

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics cited in The National Broadband Plan

Community Outcomes

An economic development oriented website, if done correctly, can effectively communicate that your community is open for business.

What to include on your community’s website

  • Location Map/ Where are you?
  • About Us/ Area overview
  • Top 5-10 largest employers
  • Major Industries/ Clusters
  • Maps (Zoning, infrastructure, traffic volumes, Drive shed maps, Clusters)
  • Incentives (e.g. -ERZ, TIF, Expedited Reviews, RLF, etc)
  • Detailed Demographic Information (e.g. - Population, Education, Age, etc)
  • Quick facts

Percentage of data collected about your community from your community’s websites

  • Demographic Reports (90%)
  • Labor Force Data (90%)
  • Land/ Site and Building Inventory (89%)
  • Maps (86%)
  • Contact Information (86%)
  • Major Industries/ Clusters (85%)
  • Infrastructure (83%)
  • Major Employers (80%)
  • Incentives (79%)
  • Quality of Life (76%)

Broadband:

How do you compare with fellow Granite Staters?

Get Involved

Learn more and take action to bring broadband to your area

How fast is your broadband?

Take a Speed Test

This speed test measures how fast data is downloaded from a network of servers to your computer via the internet, as well as how fast data is uploaded from your computer to the internet.

Is broadband available?

Review the Map

By clicking here, you can view what broadband services are available in your town or region in New Hampshire. The data for the map was collected from broadband service providers, anchor institutions, and residents of New Hampshire.

Are you ready?

ereadiness Survey

The e-readiness survey is designed to help you assess your community's or your business’s readiness to gain the most out of broadband internet, as well as consider what information and support structure your community or business may need to enhance broadband access.

Resources and Links

Download the Presentation for this Course