CAMBRIDGE, VT – On June 19th, from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm, Cambridge, Vermont, will celebrate the new, free public downtown Wi-Fi zone, which was funded, developed, and implemented by the Vermont Digital Economy Project with local support from the Cambridge Artists and Entrepreneurs (CAE).
The celebration will be part of the Cambridge Artists and Entrepreneurs event, “An Evening on Main Street,” which includes live music, the unveiling of the new “Welcome to Cambridge” entry sign, and a selection of CAE member businesses showcasing their products in the stores and on the sidewalks of Main Street. There will also be a cable cutting ceremony and a photo sharing activity to launch the Wi-Fi zone, along with a selection of speakers, and an explanation of the zone’s uses. The speeches will take place in front of The Farm Store’s new location at 143 Main Street in Jeffersonville at 6:00pm.
Downtown Wi-Fi zones were one of the most sought-after digital services of the Vermont Digital Economy Project, which is part of the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Cambridge was one of more than 25 towns from around the state that successfully applied to the project, and the results are already garnering excitement from the local community.
“As a group, we’re passionate about promoting the benefits of our town,” said Justin Marsh, President of CAE, “having this extra level of connectivity for visitors from Smugglers’ Notch Resort as well as for our member businesses and local residents will really make a difference here.”
A Wi-Fi zone provides open and public access to free Wi-Fi for any residents or visitors in downtown areas, who can use the network to check their email, look up directions, or post to social media. When using the zone, visitors must navigate through a landing page, www.CambridgeVT.com, where they will learn more about the activities and businesses in the town of Cambridge.
“The Cambridge Artists and Entrepreneurs group have been doing a lot of important work to promote Cambridge as a wonderful location to stay, shop and eat,” said Caitlin Lovegrove, the Network and Outreach Coordinator for the Vermont Digital Economy Project, “adding a Wi-Fi zone to encourage visitors to stay longer and to give residents more access seemed like the perfect next step, and we were glad to help make that a reality.”
Now, with a finished Wi-Fi zone, residents can walk up and down Main Street and stay on “The Cambridge Connection” while they do.
While the zone is already active in the town, the event will be an opportunity to share the experience of an open and public Wi-Fi network, while simultaneously celebrating the community and local business owners of Cambridge, Vermont. All are welcome to attend.
More Wi-Fi zone launches will also take place later this summer in Waterbury, Bennington, and Windsor.
About the Vermont Digital Economy Project
The Vermont Digital Economy Project was created to address vulnerabilities of Vermont business and communities that are not fully utilizing online tools. The project offers free support to speed flood recovery, spur economic development and job growth, and improve community resilience to disasters. The project is working directly with at least 25 of the towns that were affected by flooding to help businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities expand their innovative use of online tools. It is funded by a disaster recovery grant from the Economic Development Administration and from the donations and expertise of its partners (IBM, Microsoft, the Snelling Center for Government, the Vermont Department of Libraries, the Vermont Small Business Development Center, and the Vermont State Colleges) to provide grant services. More information can be found online at: www.vtdigitaleconomy.org.
About the Cambridge Artists and Entrepreneurs (CAE)
Cambridge Artists & Entrepreneurs is a group of Cambridge and Jeffersonville artists and entrepreneurs who seek to make Cambridge, Vermont as inspiring and attractive to locals as it is to visitors. Through communication, area marketing and promotion, event sponsorship, and community action and outreach, CAE supports a profitable, accessible, and visible business landscape in the Town of Cambridge, including Cambridge Village, Jeffersonville, and the Smugglers’ Notch Recreation Area. CAE owns and oversees www.CambridgeVT.com.