Rural NetworksRural Bridges
Projects
WSU is a leader in research and implementation of e-work efforts to increase information-based jobs in rural communities. Projects in the area of rural telework include:
- An EDA Funded Rural Telework Project
- 2003 Rural Telework Project
- Olympic Coastal Region Economic Development Project
- Digital Pathways
EDA Rural Telework Grant
A $212,605 grant from the Economic Development Administration to the Center to Bridge the Digital Divide at Washington State University will help build telecommunications capacity in rural areas to aid in workforce and economic development.
The center’s Rural Telework Program has been selected by the EDA as one of three recipients of funding for projects in Washington state. David Sampson, assistant secretary of commerce for economic development, joined U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt today in making the presentation to Bill Gillis, the center’s director.
Additional funding has been secured from the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development, along with in-kind contributions from WSU units and funding from two private sector firms, Codesic Consulting and Onshore Advantage. These partners will contribute both technical assistance to participating firms and communities and cash match. In total, WSU and its partners will match the federal grant dollar for dollar.
Participating communities include the City of Forks, and Adams, Columbia, Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties.
"Rural telework is a win-win helping urban-based businesses to be successful in a competitive global economy while creating new living wage jobs in rural communities where they are needed most," said Gillis.
The primary goal of the Rural Telework Program is to create 100 living wage information-based jobs. This will be achieved by building workforce development and telecommunications capacity in rural communities. The program will also assist existing rural businesses expand their information-based jobs and improve business practices through the use of telecommunications and computer technology. The effort launches in early fall of this year and it will run through summer 2006.
Olympic Coastal Region Economic Development Project
In collaboration with community and economic development leaders in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Grays Harbor, Pacific, and Wahkiakum counties, WSU's eWork team has developed an effort to increase information-based jobs on a regional scale. The project includes inventorying the telecommunications infrastructure, workforce capacity, and facilities available to host information-based jobs. The project will also identify innovative business applications using information technology as well as industry categories to help target candidates for employment expansion into the Olympic Coastal Region.
A workshop was held at the conclusion of the project to review findings from the effort. WSU appreciates the funding for this effort from the Washington State Office of Trade and Economic Development, the City of Forks, CenturyTel, and Sprint.
Look here » for final reports from this project
This project is also featured on the Washington State Economic Development Agency's eNewsletter.
Rural Telework Project
In the fall of 2003, WSU completed the Rural Telework Project (RTP). The overall goal of the RTP was to strengthen and diversify the economies of rural communities through telework job creation. Three rural areas in Washington participated in RTP the town of Forks, Okanogan County, and the northeast region of the state (the town of Deer Park as well as Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties). Findings from the RTP are included in an Executive Summary and lessons learned in a Community Resource Kit.
Digital Pathways
On June 25, 2002, WSU produced a seminar entitled "Rural Telework: Bringing Work to Rural America". It was one program in a six-part series called Digital Pathways and was broadcast nationally via satellite The interactive forum, downlinked to over 30 sites in 15 states in the U.S. and one site in Canada, discussed how to increase information-based jobs in rural communities. Information was presented about telecommunity centers and urban-based companies creating jobs in rural communities through the use of telecommunications. Presenters provided information about innovative activities in Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota.
View Digital Pathways (2 hours) RealPlayer — WindowsMedia