Excellence in Innovation: ConnectKentucky - Kentucky’s Technology Transformation

by Brian Mefford, President and CEO, ConnectKentucky

For the last 100 years, Kentucky’s economy was built on the backs of farmers, miners and factory workers. Economic development meant finding ways to improve farm yields, increase mining output and provide lower-cost factory production. However, in the 21st century, economic development has been redefined. No longer can Kentucky depend on its economic history to provide the economic future we desire.

In recent decades, Kentucky consistently ranked low among states in terms of technology availability and usage (see barriers to broadband access in Kentucky), as well as the number of high-tech companies and jobs within our borders . These disappointing statistics, combined with the decline of traditional industry and agriculture, brought the Commonwealth to an economic crossroads.

Kentucky has turned aggressively to technology to ensure that its communities thrive in this new economic landscape. From this commitment, ConnectKentucky, the state’s technology- based economic development alliance, was born. ConnectKentucky is both an independent, nonprofit partnership and an alignment of public and private interests unprecedented in the state, comprising leaders in private industry, government and education.

These leaders work together to develop effective strategies for technology deployment, use and literacy in Kentucky. ConnectKentucky creates both the forum and the incentive for interaction among a variety of entities that otherwise would not unite behind common goals and a shared vision. This level of teamwork is making Kentucky a better place for business and a better place to live.

Prescription for Innovation

ConnectKentucky’s primary initiative, “Prescription for Innovation,” is an intensive effort launched by Governor Ernie Fletcher to achieve full broadband deployment by 2007, improve technology literacy and increase high-tech job growth.

With the strong support of Kentucky’s Congressional delegation, bipartisan support of state legislators, local engagement and participation from businesses and academia, ConnectKentucky has achieved remarkable success in the last two years:

• Broadband availability has grown by 36 percent, meaning that an estimated 352,000 previously unserved households in Kentucky can now access broadband. Private sector investment in telecommunications infrastructure has reached an unprecedented level.

• Broadband adoption in Kentucky (the number of households subscribing to broadband service) has increased by 45 percent.

• Home-computer ownership has grown by 17 percent.

• More than 100 of Kentucky’s 120 counties are actively engaged in ConnectKentucky’s local leadership committees to establish nine-sector plans for accelerating the use of technology.

• The rate of Kentucky’s high-tech job growth is outpacing the national average.

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