A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Dear Tech Council Members and Friends:
As your Tech Council President, I want to personally thank each of you. Your years of innovation and hard work, your willingness to leverage and integrate emerging technologies, and your dedication to what's possible have enabled so many of us to continue functioning -- with relatively little disruption -- during this extraordinary time. I firmly believe that this would not have been feasible, perhaps even as recently as 5 years ago.
You -- the technology creators and users -- form the backbone of this enormous online landscape. Creators create so users can use. And through that dynamic, everyone learns and informs and improves and markets until we suddenly realize that we have at our fingertips and our voices tools and processes that allow us to engage across the room and the world. What seemed science fiction a few years ago is now our normal. We talk, we listen, we see, we share, and we gather in spaces that allow us to stay socially present and distant simultaneously.
We cannot, of course, pretend that everyone has adequate access to this environment. For instance, many in our community -- perhaps some of you -- live or work in areas with limited connectivity. Fortunately, there are those among us who are actively involved in addressing this problem through rural broadband and other solutions. Perhaps the COVID-19 crisis will spur whatever decisions and actions are needed to move this and other initiatives forward.
Thank you. Thank you for being a part of SVTC.
Sarah Cheverton, SVTC President
cheverse@jmu.edu
A NOTE FROM OUR CEO
Like
many of you, SVTC staff is working from home and making the best of #socialdistancing by using remote tools. So far so good, we are staying on top of things. Please note the section in this newsletter that contains some excellent resources.
Seeing that we can't offer to network technology users and creators in the usual manner we are testing how to offer a VIRTUAL LUNCHEON. Over the next few days we are testing the system and then will schedule one - hoping to have that booked in the calendar within the week. We think we may even have increased attendance. If you have a topic you'd like to share about (I'm thinking How to host a webinar or other remote connection topics would be popular) - PLEASE SEND ANY TOPIC IDEAS MY WAY: info@svtc-va.org
You'll have to brown-bag the virtual luncheon, but hey, that way it'll be just the way you like it. The virtual luncheon will offer video and audio participation as well as "networking" (a side panel section for typed comments and exchanges). It will be scheduled for the lunch hour. Stay tuned!
Nicky Swayne
CEO | Shenandoah Valley Technology Council
info@svtc-va.org
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TECHNITE20 POSTPONED & NOMINATION DEADLINE EXTENDED
TechNite20 | Where are the emerging businesses at?
A note from Nicky | POSTPONED: TechNite20
TechNite20, originally scheduled for May 5, has been postponed and will be rescheduled, pending facility availability.
We will honor tech and innovation in the Shenandoah Valley as soon as we can.
In the meantime, let's collect and prep all the innovation and tech-based efforts thoroughly. We have extended the nomination deadline to March 22, but if you need add'l time after that, drop me a note info@svtc-va.org. I am especially wondering about entrepreneurs in the Valley, that category is a bit thin.
Surely we have tech-based entrepreneurs??!!
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During Tech Nite, approx. 275 attendees honor and recognize the technology innovators of the area. This recognition helps organizations and individuals immensely - the winning organization is able to expand its network, attract employees, and obtain publicity inside and often outside of the local region. Tech Nite allows attendees to witness the successes and innovative progression of the Shenandoah Valley. We encourage everyone to attend, network with others, and celebrate the innovative companies, organizations, educators, and leaders in our area.
We are still taking nominations!
Seeking the Valley's tech leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, innovators, companies, and organizations that have an amplified community impact while using technology!
Tech Nite is the Shenandoah Valley's largest technology celebration of the year!
We're ready for your nominations for the Valley's best and brightest
in the following categories:
Innovation in Community Impact Award
The Community Impact Award is given to an individual, team, nonprofit/civic organization, or company in the Shenandoah Valley that aspires to use its capabilities to help solve a social or environmental issue in a local community while using technology to amplify the impact of a service, mission, or project.
Innovation in Emerging Business Award
Awarded to a Shenandoah Valley start-up/emerging
technology company or entrepreneur.
Innovation in Education K-12 Award
Awarded to the educator or program in K-12 that provides exceptional technology leadership, innovative use and/or development of technology while encouraging students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering or math.
Innovation in Higher Education Award
Awarded to the educator or program in higher education that provides exceptional technology leadership, innovative use and/or development of technology while encouraging students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering or math.
Innovation in Development Award
Awarded to a company or organization whose development of new technology applications and/or systems creates new processes, methodologies, and/or services for their own or others' benefit.
Innovation in Utilization Award
This award recognizes outstanding commercial growth and achievement by an established company that either produces or markets high tech products or services, or an established company or organization that produces/offers more
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COVID-19
(Coronavirus) Resources
During this uncertain time, we feel the need to share information that will help our readers monitor the current situation. Below we have linked several resources.
We also recommend you take a look at the following article providing additional COVID-19 resources for economic development planning and recovery:
https://restoreyoureconomy.org/
Resources to monitor COVID-19 updates:
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Harrisonburg Disaster Impact Loan Program
Harrisonburg's small businesses are facing unprecedented hard times right now. To that end, Harrisonburg Economic Development has created an emergency loan fund to aid small businesses who are being affected.
* Maximum loan amount of $5,000
* Interest free loan (0%)
* Three-year term
* No payments for 90 days after the loan funds are
disbursed to the business
* Business must have been established and operational in
the City of Harrisonburg for at least the previous 6
months
* Eligible uses of funds: payroll, utilities, inventory, rent
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2021 Virginia Telecommunications (VATI)
Input Session Webinars (4/14 or 4/23)
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Tuesday, April 14, 2020
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
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Thursday, April 23, 2020
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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The Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) Input Sessions that were originally being held in-person will now be held as webinars using the Adobe Connect platform. If you have previously registered, you do not need to register again. If you have not registered, please register using the link below. The meeting link will be sent out to registrants the week of the scheduled session.
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will host two input sessions to discuss the proposed FY2021 Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) guidelines and criteria. The meeting is open to the public. Representatives from units of local government, internet service providers and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to attend.
VATI has an introduced budget of $35 million for FY2021 to implement broadband infrastructure deployment in partnership with units of local government and private internet service providers across the commonwealth. The funds shall be used to extend service to areas that presently are unserved by any broadband provider.
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Save the Date | June 4, 2020
Commonwealth Connect Broadband Forum
Thursday, June 4, 2020 | 9 am - 5 pm
Albemarle County Office Building
(
401 McIntire Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22902
)
The forum will feature speakers from localities, broadband providers, and the Commonwealth Connect team about a range of topics to help achieve universal broadband coverage in Virginia. General sessions, breakout discussions, and ample networking opportunities will allow localities and broadband providers to connect and share best practices.
The forum is free, open to the public, and lunch will be provided. Full agenda and registration to follow. Local leaders and broadband providers are encouraged to attend.
Summit partners:
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, Center for Innovation and Technology (CIT), Virginia Association of Counties (VACo), Virginia Municipal League (VML), Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC), VCTA the Broadband Association, Virginia's Electric Cooperatives, and Virginia Telecommunications Industry Association.
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 Welcome Back Level I Member!
Wildlife Center of Virginia
The Wildlife Center of Virginia is one of the worlds leading teaching and research hospitals for wildlife and conservation medicine. The Center uses an impressive array of cutting edge technology and social media tools to provide state-of-the art veterinary care to injured wildlife, professional training to veterinary and conservation professionals from more than 40 countries, and environmental education to the audiences worldwide, all in pursuit of its mission, teaching the world to care about and care for wildlife and the environment.
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Shenandoah Valley Open Tech Jobs
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James Madison University, Harrisonburg (Scientific Computing Specialist)
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Middle River Regional Jail, Staunton (IT Systems Technician)=
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Segra, Waynesboro (IT Operations Technician)
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Harrisonburg High School (Computer Science Teacher)
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Augusta County Service Authority, Verona (Systems Analyst/Developer)
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Vision Technology Group, Harrisonburg (Tier III Network Engineer)
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Budget Referee, Harrisonburg (Full Stack Developer with front end web development focus)
GOT ADDITIONAL JOBS THAT SHOULD BE PUBLICIZED
? SEND US A NOTE AND WE'LL PUBLICIZE THEM.
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Participate in the local tech conversation: Rocktown Tech (Slack)
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SVTC MEMBERS INVITATION: DISPLAY YOUR MEMBERSHIP STATUS
Membership Badge Available
Use our new graphic on your own website (and remember to link back to our website
www. svtc-va.org
!)
Choose the graphic file of your choice:
Let us know when you incorporate this graphic and we'll mention your site in return!
Examples:
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The Shenandoah Valley Technology Council does not endorse the companies, organizations, teams, or events mentioned, or take a stand on any of the articles or notices or events included.
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Silver Level Member
Level III Members
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>> Ready to become a member, too? Membership Benefits
& Prices >> How have you benefited from participating in our activities and/ or from membership? Tell us! Info@svtc-va.org |
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Contact Us
Shenandoah Valley Technology Council
800 S. Main Street MSC 3615
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
540-568-7882
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