Nearly 12,000 Aiken County residents lack access to even the most basic Internet service.

Access to serviceable Internet is of serious importance in Aiken County, S.C., and surrounding areas, Economic Development Partnership President and CEO Will Williams said  during the partnership’s annual meeting.

“Many of our areas don’t have broadband capabilities because of where they are,” Williams said. “And so we’re trying to come up with alternative solutions so as many homes as possible will have access to broadband.”

The EDP — a nonprofit, public-private business development group — works throughout Aiken, Edgefield, Saluda and McCormick counties. Increasing internet activity in a digital age is vital to success in rural communities.