A central Ohio community is one of only ten nationally selected for “an innovative initiative to help people use broadband service for downtown revitalization and economic development,” the TimesRecorder reports. Zanesville will participate in the “Cool and Connected planning assistance program” sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Combining broadband service with local assets “such as cultural and recreational amenities” will help communities to “attract and retain investment and people, re-energize downtowns and diversify local economies,” according to EPA administrator Gina McCarthy in the article. Jay Bennett, Zanesville’s public service and community development director, said the city thinks the program “will open a lot of doors” as broadband will make the downtown area more attractive to business growth.
Zanesville selected for Cool and Connected broadband initiative
