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The U.S. based Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) announced the launch of a crowd-funding campaign for its New Connected Countryside project. For rural Ontarians the campaign is a reminder of a critical issue for the future of rural communities and one not getting as much air time in the federal election as it likely deserves.

The campaign can be found on Indiegogo here and will be active until November 30.

The ICF News Release reads:

The New Connected Countryside will counter the severe and rising economic pressure faced by rural communities by providing an online platform where community leaders, residents, institutions and businesses from around the world can connect, exchange advice, share resources and build a global network of peers. The program will also include an annual virtual summit, which will feature experts and thought leaders who will give online presentations and lead panel discussions on important issues for rural communities. The New Connected Countryside is part of ICF’s Rural Imperative initiative.

“The countryside has more to gain from being connected with high-quality broadband than urban areas,” said ICF co-founder Robert Bell. “Since the launch of our Rural Imperative project two years ago, led by ICF senior fellow Dr. Norman Jacknis, we have been working to identify the strategies of rural cities, towns and counties that are prospering in the broadband economy, and to share them. The New Connected Countryside will provide us with a global platform for doing just that while engaging rural community leaders around the world in making positive change for the people they serve.”

A dozen leading rural communities have already committed to participate in the project, from Mitchell, South Dakota and Quitman, Mississippi to Parkland County, Alberta and Wanganui, New Zealand.