Earlier this summer, an economic development expert talking to Chamber of Commerce and civic leaders outlined the necessary elements for successful economic development and growth in any community.

Among the top items needed was infrastructure. “You need a physical infrastructure, roads, telecommunications and these days broadband access,” said Dr. Joe Sumners, director of the Economic and Community Development Institute at Auburn University.

Luckily for Pike County, work is ongoing to grow, strengthen and develop that infrastructure. Local cable provider Troy Cable brought broadband to rural areas through a federal grant; in the past three years, we’ve received more than $12 million in state ATRIP funding to assist with dozens of road and bridge repairs; and on Wednesday business leaders marked the rollout of the AT&T 4G LTE network, which speeds mobile access.

For our community, this access puts us in a unique position and has drawn national attention.

“The latest in wireless and broadband technology is a major tool for education and economic development,” Troy Mayor Jason Reeves told PCMag. “As citizens continue to be more mobile, we need to keep up with the latest technology to compete economically and provide a good quality of life in our community.”

Yes, we do.

Pike County has long been a pioneering community, and even today as we move through the 21st Century we continue that spirit.

Building the right infrastructure – whether concrete or broadband – puts us in the position to continue to grow, develop and adapt in today’s global marketplace.