The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission has launched a new initiative, Digital Region 1.
Digital Region 1’s goals are to attract technology industry, develop technology talent, and promote use of digital technology for growing business and improving operations. The initiative will be comprehensive but focus on sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, and local government.
The Digital Region 1 initiative is the result of a year-long digital economy planning process, funded by the Georgia Technology Authority, which found that the region has abundant digital infrastructure.
Research conducted during the planning process revealed many opportunities to make greater use of the region’s digital assets.
The study found that many individuals, organizations, and communities in northwest Georgia could benefit from greater use of technology.
Digital Region 1 has created a website (
http://dr1.nwgrc.org) to raise awareness of northwest Georgia’s technology assets, best practices, and successes using digital technologies.
The NWGRC is establishing an advisory council for the initiative.
During an initial meeting of initiative advisers Roddy McKaig, vice-president and chief information officer of Shaw Industries noted that, “Technology is everywhere in manufacturing. It is not an option.”
At the same meeting, Sammy Rich, city manager for Rome, Ga. asked, “How do we attract investment as community-builders? How do we reach the next level?” The general answer to these questions, according to Mr. Rich, involves using digital technology.
“The goal is simply to do more and make more with technology here in northwest Georgia,” says Greg Laudeman, who is leading the initiative for the NWGRC.
The central element of digital technology is software, which requires a range of skills. Consequently, the initiative is focused on investments in skills and software to promote growth that capitalize on the region’s infrastructure.
The first step for the Digital Region 1 initiative was to establish a partnership advisory board. Now the NWGRC has launched a website (
http://dr1.nwgrc.org) to raise awareness of northwest Georgia’s technology assets, best practices, and cases of effective use of digital technologies.
The Digital Region 1 website has articles about how Shaw uses digital technology in all aspects of its business and Rome’s new smartphone application for citizens to identify issues for public works to address. The website also provides practical information about frameworks for digital strategies, and it features a profile of Tennessee Valley Net (Trenton Telephone Company).
In the coming months, as part of Digital Region 1, the NWGRC will create a regional technology brand, develop a digital strategy guide for the region’s businesses and communities, identify practical ways to finance investments in software, and map the region’s digital skill requirements.
The NWGRC seeks stories about how technology is being used for the Digital Region 1 website. The regional commission also invites technology leaders to participate on the Digital Region 1 advisory board.
The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission is a multi-county organization consisting of 15 Northwest Georgia counties and 49 municipalities. Major responsibilities of the regional development center include: (1) implementation of the Georgia Planning Act of 1989; (2) administration of the Area Agency on Aging; (3) administration of the Workforce Investment Act; and (4) providing planning and development assistance to member governments in areas they could not otherwise afford.
For more information about the Digital Region 1 initiative, contact Deana Perry at dperry@nwgrc.org or 706-295-6485. To recommend stories for the Digital Region 1 website or inquire about serving on the advisory board, contact Greg Laudeman at dr1@nwgrc.org or 706-271-5521.