The case for investing in improved digital connectivity in Harlan County

Digital connectivity is becoming more vital in driving economic growth, attracting inward investment, creating jobs and improving outcomes for people and communities. Improving availability and access to improved broadband is important for many of the key sectors within Harlan County and plays a crucial role in attracting inward investment to the area:

• Improved digital connectivity enhances connectivity and communication, creating significant transformational opportunities for professional services and remote working. 
• Making better use of digital connectivity is vital for driving innovation and growth in Manufacturing, particularly in the automotive industry, by enabling more efficient and streamlined production processes.
• Improved connectivity is also key to driving the expansion and innovation within the Aerospace Industry supply chain. 
• Increasing access to digital connectivity can also drive investment in Clean Energy Manufacturing; on one hand, it enables smart grid technologies and real-time data monitoring for efficient energy distribution. 
• Healthcare is the largest sector in Harlan’s economy. Better digital connectivity improves access to telemedicine/ telecare, enhances real-time data sharing, and supports remote patient monitoring. It enables efficient coordination among healthcare providers, boosts patient engagement, streamlines operations, reduces costs, and enhances the overall quality of care.
• Digital connectivity offers many benefits to Retail, tourism, and accommodation and food services through seamless e-commerce platforms. It can also support data analytics for personalized marketing, demand forecasting, and real-time inventory management. For tourism, it also enables efficient booking systems, virtual and augmented reality tours/ activities, and real-time updates on travel services.
• Finally, the Digital Economy sector is based upon reliable and robust digital connectivity to ensure seamless communication, data transfer, and access to cloud-based services.