NC Wired

Jennifer M. explores the use of technology to drive and support economic development in North Carolina. She provides excellent resources on e-initiatives right here in NC.

The most intriguing to me is the Grid Project, which is so innovative that I barely understand it. (Her blog references this report: http://www.e-nc.org/pdf/grid_report_oct-28-03.pdf.) From what I can understand, this network or grid will enable the average joe/jane business owner to have access to computing resources well beyond the capabilities afforded by a typical IT budget. As a result, the business can then compete more successfully in the global marketplace.

For example, when Wal-Mart or J.C. Penney or whatever large retailer tells its suppliers that the supplier needs to adopt XYZ technology so that its computer systems can communicate, then the supplier doesn't have to spend the rent, payroll, etc. adopting this new technology.

What I like most about this idea is that a business doesn't have to be in the tech business in order to use technology. One of my biggest gripes about economic development efforts is that they are often centered on glamorous businesses, that is high tech ones or consumer products companies with high profiles.

Now that Lowe's Companies (hardware not grocery) is a Fortune 50 company, Winston-Salem is actually interested in having the company's data center located here. Rumors about a corporate relocation had been circulating for years, usually centered on Winston-Salem as a corporate destination. But where did Lowe's build? Mooresville, just outside of Charlotte. Maybe the Chamber tried and failed to woo them, and just didn't publicize their efforts. The general attitude, though, of Winston-Salemites to Lowe's for many years was...a company in the sticks that has a few hardware stores? This leads me to express a fear in regards to economic development that technology can't change: people's attitudes and their approach to growth. People need to realize that growth means welcoming neighbors from out of state, spending the money needed to build and maintain great schools, having green spaces and recreational facilities, and more.

Not much related to the topic above but a couple more resources and thoughts:

Resources:
http://www.goldenleaf.org (funds business development in impoverished counties)
http://www.ideallianceinc.org/ (non-profit community of leaders to promote technology-led economic development)

Finally, at the risk of sounding un-American and supportive of the lifting of trade restrictions, or even worse, un-North-Carolinian-like, I wonder if North Carolinians should embrace rather than fight the global economy. I say this not in reaction to anything Jennifer says on her blog, but in reaction to general approaches to job loss, trade imbalances, etc. such as the "Buy Local" campaign of the local Chamber of Commerce. How about "Sell Global" instead?