Black Hills Vision – N2TEC networks innovators, entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurial communities to develop new technology-based businesses and expand existing businesses in rural regions.

The objective of the N2TEC Rural Pilot Project in the Black Hills region of South Dakota is to demonstrate the ability to effectively network innovators, entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurial communities to develop new technology-based businesses and expand existing businesses in rural regions. The model will be tested in the Black Hills communities and then expanded to other rural communities throughout South Dakota and nationally.

N2TEC has selected the Black Hills of South Dakota to conduct this pilot project during 2005 and 2006. The Black Hills HPC [High Performance Community] Index number indicated that it was in a position to benefit from the expertise, resources, and facilitation of the N2TEC HPC team. The HPC, developed by N2TEC partner Delore Zimmerman of North Dakota, is based on Seven High-Performance Community Action Strategies: connectivity, entrepreneurship, job growth from within, global awareness, industry clusters, inter-firm collaboration, and regional collaboration. An HPC is a place where individuals, companies, organizations, and government agencies are enabled to be fast, flexible, focused, networked, customized, and global. Completing the HPC Index provides a snapshot of a community’s readiness for innovation and technology-based development.

The project is led by Dr. Mel Ustad, Director of Technology Commercialization for the State of South Dakota, also an N2TEC partner, and is aligned with the state’s 2010 Initiative to produce opportunity and economic development for the state.

Mel Ustad
[email protected]

http://www.n2tec.org/hpc/blackhills.asp