Government Technology

ConnectKentucky Presented National Excellence in Innovation Award


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August 31, 2006 By

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Sandy K. Baruah was in Bowling Green today to present ConnectKentucky and Kentucky's Prescription for Innovation with the United States Economic Development Administration's 2006 Excellence in Innovation Award. The national award recognizes Kentucky's Prescription for Innovation as a national leader in innovative strategies for economic development.

"ConnectKentucky's implementation of the Prescription for Innovation has established the Commonwealth as a national model for technology-based economic development," said Governor Ernie Fletcher. "Over the last two years, technology in Kentucky has grown like never before, and communities statewide are realizing the benefits. I appreciate EDA's recognition of this important work and commend ConnectKentucky for this accomplishment."

Kentucky's Prescription for Innovation is a comprehensive plan to accelerate technology growth, particularly in the areas of broadband deployment and technology literacy and usage. The initiative maintains four key tenets for impacting statewide economic development:
  • Full broadband deployment by the end of 2007
  • Dramatically improved use of computers and the Internet by all Kentuckians
  • A meaningful online presence for all Kentucky communities, to improve citizen services and promote economic development through e-government, virtual education, online healthcare
  • Local technology leadership teams in every community to develop and implement technology growth strategies for local government, business and industry, education, healthcare, agriculture, libraries, tourism, and community-based organizations.
Over the course of implementation of the Prescription for Innovation, statewide broadband availability and usage have increased by 36 percent and 45 percent respectively. An estimated 375,000 previously unserved households can now access broadband as private sector investment in telecommunications infrastructure has reached an unprecedented level in Kentucky. Currently, 82 percent of Kentucky homes can access broadband, on track to reach 100 percent availability in 2007. Home computer ownership has grown by 17 percent, and more than 100 counties are actively engaged in the eCommunity Leadership process to establish a nine-sector technology growth plan for accelerating technology locally. Moreover, the rate of Kentucky's high-tech job growth is outpacing the national average.

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