The building of what I refer to as an eCommunity is vital for promoting and strengthening your region to the world. Either you are proactive in your marketing your region to the world or you are not. In the end, opportunities could pass you by if you slacken your marketing efforts, and you will wonder why your region is not doing well economically. Partner for regional success.
Marketing your community to the world
A few communities in Canada and the United States have become “Learning Communities”. The whole vision of these communities is to focus on learning and improvement. They work to help increase literacy and foster ideas that promote learning as a lifestyle. Whether at work or at home, learning is the focus.
I have a dream for my local area. I live in a town called Truro. Truro is located in the province of Nova Scotia. I can one day see my town taking this idea one step further than a Learning Community, and becoming an eCommunity. So far, I have helped initiate the idea in the Shelburne, Nova Scotia area. They have become an E-Smart Community.
Now when I talk about Leaning Communities and eCommunity areas, I don’t mean we are all going to be plugged into our computers and mobile devices all the time. Our computers and mobile devices will be tools for a greater end. After all, being on a computer too much is not healthy. My wife and girls tell me this and I am striving to find a great work life balance.
So what is an eCommunity? I see an eCommunity as a community that is not only fostering learning, but it is focused on connecting and communicating electronically for business or personal use. An eCommunity is E-Business friendly community. Business is critical to the health of a community.
The people in an eCommunity promote community life, learning, business, and entrepreneurship. Strong computer essential skills are important. An eCommunity is a “light house” that attracts good people, good businesses and good opportunities. It shines a light globally for all to see. We are entering an age where learning and engaging with others is becoming more critical; whether for business or personally.
An eCommunity is NOT a bunch of people spending way too much time on their computers and mobile devices. I need to make myself clear and qualify this point. It’s about quality engagement with others, learning and blazing trails into new areas. I believe Truro and our local surrounding areas can be an eCommunity to the world. I know Shelburne is well on the way.
So how could this happen? The first thing that needs to happen is access to high-speed Internet. The faster the Internet, the better. Those farther out will need to get high-speed Internet quickly as well. Nobody wants to use a slow Internet. Businesses that put the technology in place need to help connect communities with high-speed. To be an eCommunity, high-speed Internet service must be a given. Truro has high-speed Internet, but the areas surrounding Truro, like Tatamagouche, need to be updated with high-speed Internet.
Remember that an eCommunity is inclusive and raises up areas around it. It is worth noting that cities are playing around with an umbrella Wi-fi strategy. In this instance, the Internet is available to all those under an umbrella area. This could also be a strategy that an E-Community would also apply.
The second thing needed for an eCommunity is location. A great eCommunity will be a great place to live. Truro is already located centrally in the Province of Nova Scotia. It is called the “Hub of Nova Scotia”. All major road and rail traffic pass through Truro. Truro is also one hour north of a major city center. Why is this important? The residents and businesses in an eCommunity need quick access to parts and infra-structure.
Furthermore, the Truro area has room for growth and can accommodate more people as the eCommunity expands. Personally, I like living outside of a city. I like the idea that I can work anywhere in the world from my office. A while ago, I had spoken with my friend Chris Voss who lives in California. Chris explained to me that he could work with his clients virtually from any location. The beauty of an eCommunity is that people like Chris Voss can have the best of both worlds; a great place to live and a great place to do business.
The third thing an E-Community needs is great education institutions nearby to support and train the new trades for the eCommunity as it continues to develop and evolve. The NSCC and the Dalhousie University Campus in Bible Hill are important assets to the eCommunity vision in the Truro area. Education in an eCommunity also allows for “Out of the Box” learning. As I talked with Chris Voss, we talked about the idea that one size does not fit all. We talked about how we learned and what worked for us.
An eCommunity allows for customized learning that gets people to where they need to go. An eCommunity allows for entrepreneurship training and out of the box thinking. Just think of this; there are trades that do not even exist yet, that will be needed in the near future. How will people be trained for them? There are businesses that do not exist yet that will require out of the box thinking as well. An eCommunity allows for various ways to achieve great ends.
An eCommunity also promotes learning outside of institutions as well. It recognizes the value of learning from others outside of the community. This is way engagement with others is a pillar of an eCommunity. This will require people to think in new ways as well as old ways that achieve great results.
So what will an eCommunity look like to business and the residents of an area? An eCommunity is about connecting with others to create great people. It will help new people who have moved to our area to connect with us. This in turn should help people connect face to face. This should always be the end result of an eCommunity.
ECommunity people have strong relationships with others. We are not just great electronically, we are great in person. I know this sounds idealistic, but if we do not aim high, we will only achieve low results. I enjoy my connection with Chris Voss and others like him. I would like to think that knowing Chris makes me a better personal and a better business. Connecting and collaborating is key to an eCommunity.
An E-Community is also about being a magnet to attract more business to our area. Hence, the Light House Concept. People looking in see something that is worth connecting to themselves. The Truro area just recently tied for third place in Canada for the best place in Canada to do business.
An eCommunity should help businesses provide better customer service because they are listening and responding to their customers. Great customer service is attractive to everyone. We know that the art of business is changing. Some businesses will cease to exist and other new ones will develop. An eCommunity moves along with the changing trends to stay viable in this new economy.
I like the idea, “If we build it, they will come”. Embracing an eCommunity vision for our area will place the eyes of the world upon us. We will be a light house that shines new light in a darken world. I am a great believer in the “Blue Ocean” concept. The last thing my area needs is the “Red Ocean” concept, whereby we are fighting over the same scraps as the rest of the world. It’s time to do something big in the world. It’s time for an eCommunity.
So here’s to a great day in business for you.
