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| Bryan (l) and Loveland demonstrate to Starbucks employee Mariya Shopova how the York County Community Network operates. | ||
County, chamber team-up to boost community computer network in York
Imagine a place so e-commerce savvy that its businesses already are tossing about the notion that they could create a “digital membrane” around their business community to retain local spending and keep business from “leaking” elsewhere.
Even better: Imagine a place where the local Internet whiz kids not only work with the local chamber of commerce to set up this membrane through a digital network at no charge to the members, but they’ll also give a free Web site to any elected official, civic organization, educational institution or homeowners association to help spur community Internet activity. And imagine that the local government, in cooperation with the chamber, will actually help pay local businesses that are really serious about getting started in e-commerce to use the digital network to develop their e-commerce capability.
This entrepreneur’s dream is no pie-in-the-sky musing. It’s happening today in York County, where the growing success of the York County Community Network and the resultant ballooning of the technologically with-it York County Chamber of Commerce is turning the corporate heads of neighboring Hampton Roads jurisdictions that are wondering how they’re doing it.
Tim Meyer, president of the York County Chamber of Commerce, says there’s no smoke and mirrors involved. But there is a good supply of community goodwill and a lot of unselfish people who see the long-term benefit of working to protect each other’s interests.
“There are hundreds of community networks like ours around the world, and the more progressive cities and counties have them,” Meyer says. “But they generally are rooted in one of two models: Commercial or government. That’s what we’re doing differently here in York County. We believe we’ve created a hybrid model that is, as far as we know, unique in Hampton Roads. It’s a community focused approach that already is paying dividends.”
The commercial model, Meyer points out, usually is put together by one business, or a consortium of businesses, that ultimately have their own interests in mind. The government model, conversely, is often limited by what it can offer because of restrictions put on the use of public tax dollars.
York County’s innovative hybrid model uses the best of both worlds. By creating a digital network that’s community-based, both the business and government sectors can work broadly as each sees fit, leveraging the strengths of the community. And it may surprise people to learn that, among the forward-thinking Internet whiz kids who unselfishly offer their expertise to the effort, three aren’t kids at all – they are, in fact, military retirees, all with generous supplies of gray hair, computer knowledge and strong community spirit.
“Every chamber in the country says two things: ‘buy local’ and ‘we’re a community service organization,” says Carl Loveland, CEO of Dash One, a company that specializes in tailoring business solutions for community e-commerce. “The fact of the matter is they rarely do either one very well. Our goal is to put teeth in both of these here in York County.”
Loveland, a 20-year Air Force veteran, founded Dash One in 2002 along with another Air Force veteran, CTO Brad Thompson, to support community enterprise development. Steven Bryan, a long-time Air Force buddy of Loveland’s whom he first met in 1978 during an assignment in England, joined the firm in 2003 as chief operations officer. The York County Community Network, largely the result of a Loveland-Bryan collaboration, helps any non-profit or service organization, government elected official or homeowner’s association in York County to have an Internet presence – completely free of charge. They also offer consulting services any for-profit business wishing to set up an e-commerce Web site, with priority going to York County businesses.
There is even financial assistance available to businesses in York County wishing to become part of the area’s burgeoning e-commerce network. Recognizing a good thing when they see it, York County’s Economic Development Authority put up $30,000 in the form of the E-Commerce Grant Program, which will provide up to $500 in matching grants to any qualified York County business. Applicants must provide the chamber a detailed plan showing how the grant would help the business establish, integrate, or further develop e-commerce into its emerging or existing business strategy. At a minimum, applicants must commit to establishing an Internet presence and identity, and could address the goal of developing the capability to conduct Internet-based transactions and promotions. Minority and women-owned businesses stand to gain even more, with grants up to $1,000 available.
In most instances, once you’ve made your case and you receive the grant approval, you’re on your own to implement the program. But, as is becoming the trademark of the York County Chamber of Commerce and the Community Network, the support doesn’t stop there. Once the business’s Web site is ready to go online, the York County Community Network provides an array of integrated features to help grow the business. The Community Network will help any grant winner receive priority placement on the network so that residents and potential customers can more easily find them.
To find out more ...
Contact the York County Chamber of Commerce at 757/877-5920, or log on to www.yorkcountycc.org. York County Chamber of Commerce President Tim Meyer can be reached by calling 757/886-1900.
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