Connect Ohio Helps to Expand Internet Access to Small Business in Belmont County

Contact: Amanda Murphy 

amurphy@connectohio.org 

614-220-0190 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

November 10, 2011 

Belmont County small business finds great success with GMN Wireless broadband 

Columbus, Ohio – Connect Ohio helped to extend GMN Wireless broadband access in Belmont County, which in turn, helped local business like, Anvils and Ink Studios, in Somerton, thrive.

Gaining access to high-speed Internet access can be a real game changer for small business. This situation is true for Jerry Smith, owner of Anvils and Ink Studios in Belmont County, where he hand crafts fine art and jewelry, metal sculptures, leather goods, and other custom pieces.

“Shortly before Smith became a customer of GMN, Connect Ohio worked in training GMN Wireless on how to use radio propagation software and how to create their own coverage maps,” said Bart Winegar, technical outreach manager for Connect Ohio. “This helped them to increase efficiency and to serve some customers who otherwise may have been deemed unreachable.”

Smith was able to benefit from using broadband by increasing his sales after he decided to upgrade to a high-speed connection. Before having a broadband connection, Smith was selling around $150,000 in products each year. After taking his business online, Smith now sells more than $3 million in products each year.

Internet access has connected Smith to clients he would have never been able to reach before. Smith places orders internationally and now has clients in India and Pakistan. Not only has being online increased local clientele, but also gained Smith some new clients globally.

“Finding new markets, which used to take weeks or months, now only takes moments,” said Smith. “I can easily research what people are wanting.”

The Internet has allowed Smith’s business to grow to a level which was unreachable without a high-speed Internet connection. Connect Ohio continues to work with GMN Wireless to help it reach more un-served households.

According to Connect Ohio’s 2010 Business and Broadband Survey, only 67% of Ohio businesses use broadband, leaving 88,000 (33%) Ohio businesses off-line

Other Business Survey technology figures:

• Median annual revenues for broadband-connected Ohio businesses are $200,000 higher than those without broadband
• Ohio businesses pay a median monthly price of $67.36 for their broadband service
• Approximately 59,000 Ohio businesses allow their employees to telework, reducing the cost of office space and the number of miles that employees are forced to commute to work

For more information on GMN Wireless, visit http://www.gmn4u.com/ 

View the 2010 Broadband Business Survey http://connectoh.org/_documents/OH_BizWhitePaper_FINAL.pdf 

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About Connect Ohio: Connect Ohio, a division of Connected Nation, is a nonprofit, technology-neutral public-private partnership that works with telecommunications providers, business and community leaders, information technology companies, researchers, public agencies, libraries and universities in an effort to help extend affordable high-speed Internet service to every Ohio household. For more information about what Connect Ohio is doing to accelerate technology in Ohio's communities, visit http://www.connectohio.org 

Related Links: Connect Ohio on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ConnectOhio Connect Ohio on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnectOH

Connect Ohio Applauds Columbus Metropolitan Library’s National Medal for Community Service Award

 

Contact: Amanda Murphy
amurphy@connectohio.org 

614-220-0190 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

November 3, 2011 

Connect Ohio congratulates Columbus Metropolitan Library on its award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services 

Columbus, Ohio – Connect Ohio is pleased to congratulate the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML), on receiving The National Medal for Community Service.

The award issued last Tuesday, October 25, in Washington, D.C., by the Institute of Museums and Library Service (IMLS), named CML one of this year’s 10 winners. The award is considered the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries for extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions.

Recipients must demonstrate innovative approaches to public service and community outreach. CML was recognized for its job help centers, homework help centers and Ready to Read Corps, all of which help to make a difference in the lives of people in the community. Patrick Losinski, executive director of CML, highlighted the library’s partnerships for its ability to do this work. Connect Ohio was noted as a CML community partner through its Every Citizen Online (ECO) program.

“I’m always humbled by our national recognition for the work we do at CML,” said Losinski, “Humbled because it is this community’s good faith and deep love for this library that allows us to be great.”

CML is a sub-recipient of Connect Ohio’s ECO grant and participates in holding ECO basic computer training classes.

“Congratulations to CML--this recognition comes as no surprise,” said Stu Johnson, executive director of Connect Ohio, “CML continues to be our best performing ECO sub-recipient. We offer a special thanks to Steve Hipes, CML team leader and ECO project manager, and his team of dedicated staff.”

Find additional information about the Every Citizen Online program 

View a press release detailing the program

View Connect Ohio’s Every Citizen Online televised PSAs 

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About Connect Ohio: Connect Ohio, a division of Connected Nation, is a nonprofit, technology-neutral public-private partnership that works with telecommunications providers, business and community leaders, information technology companies, researchers, public agencies, libraries and universities in an effort to help extend affordable high-speed Internet service to every Ohio household. For more information about what Connect Ohio is doing to accelerate technology in Ohio's communities, visit http://www.connectohio.org Related Links: Connect Ohio on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ConnectOhio Connect Ohio on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnectOH