Special e-commerce/broadband activities at the 2012 NACDEP conference a SUCCESS!

Thanks to all of you who participated in the two special sessions held as part of the annual meeting of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP). More than 40 participants attended the SRDC-sponsored e-commerce session prior to NACDEP. Specific e-commerce curricula such as Connecting Communities, eStrategies for Local Governments, Electronic Retailing, and Direct Marketing Food Specialty Products Online were showcased.

The second special session took place after NACDEP adjourned and involved a team of 15 Extension educators and state agency partners. This session focused on ways to coordinate broadband adoption and planning initiatives across a number of states and to share ideas, tips, survey instruments, and best practices. If you are interested in joining this group, please email Rachel Welborn, SRDC program manager, at rachelw@srdc.msstate.edu.

Recently released, updated, and upcoming e-commerce curricula

The Connecting Communities curriculum underwent some significant revisions in recent months. This educational resource is designed to enhance the availability, use, and adoption of broadband and related information tools by communities, especially in rural America. For more information, please click here.

An updated version of the Center's Electronic Retailing curriculum is undergoing will be released in late 2012. This module will help participants learn to build a virtual business presence, target the right customers, develop an engaged audience, and manage the daily aspects of electronic retailing securely. Connecting the dots on creating a successful electronic retailing venture is easy once you understand what tools are available and understand the decisions you need to make. Stay tuned!

eStrategies for Local Governments is now available! The online curriculum covers topics such as Internet usage trends, process of developing a website on a community level, types of "community" websites, and more. For more information, click here.

USDA Community Connect Grant webinar set for June 7

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Services (RUS) announced the availability of its Community Connect Grant Program. This grant program is designed to bring broadband service to rural areas where the service currently does not exist. Take part in an informational webinar Thursday, June 7 from noon to 2 p.m. CT. Due to a limited number of seats for this session, interested parties must pre-register by contacting Nicole Payne at (202) 720-2281 or Nicole.Payne@wdc.usda.gov or Carla Johnson at (202) 720-0667 or Carla.Johnson2@wdc.usda.gov.

FCC launches broadband adoption Lifeline pilot program competition

Winners will receive funding for Lifeline pilot projects that test how best to increase adoption of high-speed Internet among low-income Americans. This initiative is a public-private partnership aimed at helping to close the broadband adoption gap. For more information, click here.

Report finds entrepreneurs could save up to $16,000 when using broadband

A report by the Internet Innovation Alliance and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council indicates that entrepreneurs could save up to $16,000 in startup costs by using broadband. To read the full report, click here.

Three-quarters of smartphone owners use location-based services

A new report by the Pew Internet states that 74 percent of smartphone owners use their phone to get real-time location-based information (such as Google maps, Yelp and Mapquest). This percentage translates to about 41 percent of all American adults using location-based services. To read the report, click here.