Countywide IT & Telecommunications Survey Released in 2013In 2012, The CCEDC awarded $138,000 form the Cape & Island License Plate Fund to Interisle Consulting Group for the completion of a Countywide IT and Telecommunications survey. It took just over eight months to survey and compile the report for all fifteen towns plus the county complex. It is our intention that the survey serve as the basis to facilitate planning by the towns and the county to improve regional communications and to implement technology in ways that benefit us all—especially to generate more efficiencies at lower costs for “smarter” applications Cape-wide. The Cape Cod Technology Council is taking the lead in pulling active partners together to implement the plan. View Final Report |
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A New Vision: Defining Cape Cod’s Future as a Smart Community BARNSTABLE, MA -- In May 2011, community leaders from across Cape Cod came together at the first SmarterCape Summit to envision what a Smarter Cape might look like—searching for ways technology would combine with the entrepreneurial spirit and creative skills of Cape Codders to improve opportunities for living, working, and visiting the region that so many treasure. The summit was a powerful and energizing event that focused on key themes of technology-enabled economic development, efficient public services, and improved quality of life. Summit organizers quickly formed a working group, dubbed the SmarterCape Partnership, to advance a vision that grew out of that conference. “Last May’s Summit was such an electrifying experience that we wanted to be sure to harness the energy and ride it to the next level. We didn’t want the Summit to be a dead-end, but rather the initiation of a new Cape Cod, so we held a follow-up visioning session in September,” said Wendy Northcross. This past December the resulting draft of a working vision statement was presented to a wide range of participants, many of whom had found inspiration at the May summit. The pivotal vision statement will serve as the foundation for SmarterCape Summit 2012, May 14 and 15. The newly drafted vision statement, available at smartercapepartnership.com, describes the region in 2025 and beyond—as supported by OpenCape and the techno-enabled opportunities it affords. Community members interested in serving in an advisory capacity for the SmarterCape initiative should send an email to info@smartercape.org. |
The Cape Cod Economic Development Council (EDC) |
| is an agency of Barnstable County consisting of 14 Council Members. Council membership includes 11 private sector members representing various segments of the Cape's economy (appointed by the county commissioners) and one representative each from the Barnstable County Commissioners, the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, and the Cape Cod Commission. The mission of the EDC is "to improve the quality of life for all residents of Barnstable County by fostering public policies and financing, through grants, activities that lead to a healthy year-round economy compatible with the Cape Cod environment and culture." The EDC accomplishes this mission by providing financial support for innovative projects that strengthen the Cape's economy and collaborating with the non-profit, public and private sectors on a variety of economic and workforce development initiatives. |
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Updates |
| The CCEDC recently approved the granting of $350,000 for each of three years, beginning in fiscal 2010 for the purposes of overseeing and implementing the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Barnstable County. The key resource of this project is the Cape Cod Commission, who will provide technical assistance to all 15 towns within the county. |
Cape & Islands License Plate Loan Fund Established: |
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| The Cape Cod Economic Development Council awarded Coastal Community Capital $100,000 to establish a revolving loan fund: “The Cape and Islands License Plate Loan Fund”. The fund provides loans to small “unbankable” businesses on Cape Cod. To learn more: http://www.coastalcommunitycapital.org |
$150,000 of Grants Awarded in 2010: |
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| Jr. Tech: STEM workshop planning initiative; Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fisherman’s Association and Buy Fresh, Buy Local: The first Cape Cod Community Supported Fishery and increased distribution channel development for locally grown produce; Lewis Bay Research: for re-development of the Parker’s River area in Yarmouth; Woods Hole Film Festival: new media application development with partners; Read More |