The e-Initiative, a grassroots effort to connect all North Carolinians to the Internet, recently officially approved public engagement grants to the state’s most economically distressed counties. Halifax County was awarded $4,000 and Northampton County, $3,300 from the grants. The boards of commissioners from each county designated HCC to be the hub for technological advancement in the Roanoke Valley and to receive the funds.

The Rural Internet Access Authority approved the e-NC grant recipients. The RIAA was created in August 2000 as a result of studies authorized by the NC General Assembly Rural Prosperity Task Force. The research indicated that technology was a major component of economic success in North Carolina and therefore needed to be the major thrust for rural communities.

According to Willa Dickens, HCC director of Business and Industry Services, "This is an effort to get Internet out there to the people in rural communities who don’t have it." The grants will provide financial support for community meetings where specific technology needs can be discussed.

The College has already appointed a steering committee in both counties. The next step - an "e-engagement" - will be a large campus event with top-notch speakers and a "Technology Fair" to light the fires for progress and open the doors for opportunity.

Dickens said that HCC will then go out into the two counties via community meetings to promote the idea, focusing on existing resources in each county, and ultimately creating a technology plan for each county.

The third step involves an additional $5,000 in grant money for each county to support community assessment and countywide technology plans. The emphasis will be on creating a Community Access Center in each county to make computers and the Internet available to all citizens.