2. Connect to the World

Local buying should not be confused with provincialism. Connections to the greater world are critical, even for locally owned business, especially in the New Economy. Businesses, as well as hospitals, schools and local governments, must be able to quickly, easily and cheaply tap into a vast array of data and information.

The impressive capabilities of telecommunications aside, people and packages still have to come and go - quickly. Transportation is still vital. Again, small communities most often suffer from inadequate transportation infrastructure, whether it be access to an airport or to an interstate. That, too, must be remedied.

Finally, it is not enough for communities to simply have the physical connections. They must be able to use and benefit from them. That means training; it also means receptivity to innovation, technologies and ideas.


Principle In Action

Cities and utility companies are seeing the wisdom of upgrading their public telecommunication systems or working with private firms to enhance local service.  Fiber optics is the wave of the future.