Activities and Projects

Rural Connections is a program delivered through the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs mandated to promote the connectivity of the residents and businesses in the Province of Ontario. Connectivity promotes and supports the competitiveness of our economy in the regional, national and global marketplace. The County of Simcoe successfully applied for funding under the Rural Connections program in September 2008 garnering the maximum funding allowed - $1M. This funding is to be supported with a $2M investment from the public/private sector. The funding will enable local ISP’s (internet service providers) to make a strong business case for installing infrastructure for extending existing broadband services into the rural areas. A key component of this program is a business and resident outreach program. Nottawasaga Futures chairs the Business Outreach Sub-Committee. This committee will work directly with the Outreach Co-ordinator to create press coverage and disseminate educational seminars and workshops highlighting the many uses and advantages of broadband services such as e-commerce, high level website design, instant messaging, e-government services, e-books, etc. 

Bell Alliant has been selected as the vendor for this project and is working on establishing a timetable of when areas will be serviced. The County of Simcoe has established a website to inform the public of the project and opportunities that come with broadband service. www.ruralconnections.simcoe.ca. To date eight areas have access to broadband (Thornton was the sole location in South Simcoe). The remainder of the county is anticipated to have access to broadband by April 2010.