Digital Economy Assessment Sanders County

Center on Rural Innovation

April 1, 2022

Assessment Summary
Building a digital ecosystem in a rural region is not easy, and each community will have a
different approach that matches their area’s strengths. Based on quantitative and qualitative
analysis, Sanders County has many assets to catalyze and grow a dynamic digital economy
ecosystem which are detailed throughout this report.

This effort was informed by three community asset mapping workshops with stakeholders,
a digital economy diagnostic that quantitatively takes a look at trends in the region, and a
review of regional strategy documentation. The below summarizes the strengths and
challenges of your digital economy’s foundational elements and necessary infrastructure
and then focuses on your region’s strengths and assets, gaps and challenges, as well as
potential solutions to develop your direct drivers. It then highlights four key areas to develop
within the community as you build your digital economy ecosystem. Detailed assessment
findings for each of the five drivers can be found in the appendix.

This report has contents that can be utilized to support the development of funding
applications (such as the USDA’s RISE or RBDG), inform your region’s broader economic
development strategy, and as a basis from which to develop a place-based, bottom up digital
economy strategy for Sanders County