Broadband Connecting Nebraska Conference

Thanks to a scholarship from the Nebraska Broadband Initiative, I am currently attending the Broadband Connecting Nebraska Conference. There was a lot of good information presented today, but I felt the talk by Ryan Mead (CEO/founder, Vitru, Inc.) was the best and most inspiring. Times have changed. No longer do people always have to move to where their job is. With a good broadband connection, people are able to do their jobs from anywhere in the world. According to Mead, small communities should not focus on bringing in a big employer with 100 jobs.  Instead the communities should focus on becoming more friendly and attractive to young families (good broadband access, child care, quality education, etc.) Try to bring back into the town those who may have graduated from your local high school 15-30 years ago. Our world is quickly changing, and we need to update our strategies for community growth.