Google - Come make History in Hickory!!!

Over the last year, since I began participating in the Future Economy Council and started trying to assess this world in which we live, I have found comfort from many of the people I have gotten to know as compatriots of the Technological Society. I can't say that we are similar, because we aren't. We are very unique individuals. I'm not going to name names here, because what I write here isn't about names, it's about the mindset. We are a group of people tied together by the fact that we live our lives "Outside of the Box."

There are many of us who are of like mind in believing that Technology will enrich our lives. I don't believe any of us are scared of technology. There are already many people in this community who fully understand what will happen if this Google Fiber to the Home Initiative were brought to the Hickory-Lenoir area. We really want this to happen, because as I have said, this is the game changer and we accept and embrace the ways it will change our lives.

One thing that has been stated is that we as a community need to come forward with ideas of how we envision this Google project changing our lives personally. I believe that is a hard task for many people in this community to do, because their lives have been so rigidly structured for so long, that it is hard for them to let their imagination run free and run down alternative paths towards innovation. Words and phrases that come to mind are "Let's be realistic" ... impossible ... relevant ..."Can't be done"... "Show me where it's been done before."...

Now the people who have lived in these worlds of limitations are being asked to open their minds to limitless possibilities. Heck, I am sure that there are some people in this community that will believe that is impossible. But, I am not here to talk about the relevant. I am here to talk about the irrelevant.

Whether we can pull people's minds into a new way of thinking before Google makes a decision is irrelevant. We as a community are very much capable of being innovative. We have had plenty of tools that have been laid to spur knowledge and creativity over the last few years. Lenoir-Rhyne, CVCC, CCC&TI, The Appalachian State Partnership, the Engineering Center, the Manufacturing Solutions Center, and the excellent SALT Block have developed and are still developing into top notch centers of academia, scientific, and cultural study. Their is also the fact that Appalachian State's Millennial Campus is looking to the Hickory area for its development. If Google makes the decision to lay this fiber here, then it will bring new inhabitants to our community who will spur that growth of knowledge, creative, and innovative endeavors to even higher levels.

What I hope that Google will take into consideration is the fact that if they come here they will have a great story to tell in the not too distant future. They can tell the story of how they created value in a community. They can tell how they played "buy low and sell high" at its finest. They will have entered a community with a lot of great ingredients that just needs a catalyst to get the energy flowing again. Google's Fiber is the rocket fuel we need. I truly believe that if this happens, we are going to take off to the stratosphere.

Other communities might have a lot to offer, but we have the ways to facilitate these connections expeditiously. We're ready! We have the Data Centers, we have the manufacturers, we have buildings that need new uses, and we have the rail corridor that is ready made for this effort. What a story this would be and in the end isn't that what it is all about?

Google, please come to Hickory and make History!!!