Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

  • Login

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Home News Regions Southern Virginia Region is one of six targeted by Microsoft TechSpark plan

Region is one of six targeted by Microsoft TechSpark plan

Published April 26, 2018 by Virginia Business

A student uses TV white space technology installed at his home to access the internet. Photo courtesy Microsoft

Southern Virginia’s digital profile is getting a boost from Microsoft Corp.

The company’s TechSpark initiative, begun last year, aims to create more job opportunities in economically stressed areas throughout the country.

The Microsoft effort was prompted by the 2016 presidential election, during which the problems of rural America became an issue.

“That brought some things in focus,” says Jeremy Satterfield, TechSpark manager for Virginia. “The country hadn’t been focusing on rural populations, and they stood up in droves. They weren’t being heard. That was a wake-up call for us as a company.”

Southern Virginia is one of six TechSpark regions. Others include El Paso, Texas; the North Central Basin of Washington state; Cheyenne, Wyo.; Fargo, N.D.; and Northeast Wisconsin.

The Southern Virginia region (Mecklenburg, Halifax, Charlotte, Lunenburg and Brunswick counties) was chosen because of Microsoft’s data center in Mecklenburg as well as a “plethora of opportunity” in the area, Satterfield says.

TechSpark focuses on five areas: digital transformation, career pathways, rural broadband, nonprofit support, and digital-skills and computer-science education.

The initiative will work with Southern Virginia businesses, startups, nonprofits and entrepreneurs to address technology challenges in the region. The program also will look at ways to help Southern Virginia schools and colleges train students in digital skills.

The rural broadband program is part of Microsoft’s initiative to connect 2 million people around the country by 2020 through wireless technology as well as unused TV channels, which are called “white space.”

“TV white space signals work in rural settings,” Satterfield says. “They became available when the government required the move from analog to digital on televisions.”

In addition, TechSpark will provide grants to Southern Virginia nonprofits. “They have been doing wonderful things for their communities,” Satterfield says. “We want to offer help for them to continue.”

He has been working on proposals for each of TechSpark’s five program areas since the initiative began in Southern Virginia in March. “None of those are in announcement stage yet,” Satterfield says. “We will be announcing something in the next few weeks or months.”

Working on TechSpark is a personal cause for him. “I was born and raised in Halifax County, so I have a lot of vested interest,” Satterfield says. 

Related Stories

Virginia Business logo

Virginia Uranium opens office in Chatham

Virginia Business logo

Sawmill operation to expand in Pittsylvania County

Karen Jackson. Photo courtesy New College Institute

Unmanned Systems Association of Va. names board chair

Former state Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson will help promote unmanned systems industry

Trending

Making strides

13th annual Best Places to Work

It’s back!

After the crisis

Fort Monroe development moving forward

Sponsored Stories

Working at Pinnacle Financial Partners

What Logistics issues will have the biggest impact on you in 2023?

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

Making strides

13th annual Best Places to Work

It’s back!

After the crisis

Fort Monroe development moving forward

Sponsored Stories

Working at Pinnacle Financial Partners

What Logistics issues will have the biggest impact on you in 2023?

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2023 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk