BEDFORD — In the interest of expanding business and educational opportunities, the Bedford County Board of Supervisors wants to explore solutions in providing Internet broadband.
Supervisors on Tuesday directed County Administrator Kathleen Guzi and the county’s economic development authority to devote time and resources to developing a strategy plan.
Residents and businesses alike have asked the county for years to come up with answers.
“There’s no question there is the need,” said board Chairman Steve Arrington.
Bryan David, executive director of the Region 2000 Economic Development Council, said Tuesday that Internet access is not about e-mails or downloading music.
It has become a life safety issue in emergency response, he said. The challenge is the “death to distance” issue of the providers only going where homes are.
“We need to step up to the plate and work through these last miles issues,” he said.
Guzi said a county-initiated broadband research effort would not cost taxpayers money but the county needs to provide staff time looking into it.
Also Tuesday: Sue Montgomery, the county’s economic development director, gave an update on Bedford’s economy. Unemployment rose from 3 percent to 4.1 percent this year, she said, but it’s still better than numerous surrounding localities.
Business-based revenue has grown 5.8 percent over five years, she said.
“Maybe it’s true to say the commercial growth is catching up with our residential growth,” Montgomery said.
A new plastics manufacturer called the Matrixx Group expects to grow considerably over the next five to six years in the city of Bedford, she said. And though Barr Labratories, the county’s largest employer in Forest, has been purchased by an Israeli firm, she said there is continued growth expected there.
The county is also concentrating on developing a homegrown work force, she said, and has partnered through Central Virginia Community College and Bedford County Public Schools to get local juniors and seniors more acquainted with local businesses.
“The labor force issue is the number concern of our businesses,” she said.
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