 | Oregon Telecommunity Center Project - A Replicable Model for Sustainable Rural Communities
OregonAbstractThe Oregon Telecommunity Center Project will produce a replicable model for planning and developing a telecommunity center to reduce travel demand while increasing access to jobs. The proposed project will assess the needs of specific Oregon rural communities that can be served by technology and network services through a telecommunity center. The proposed project will analyze costs and benefits of the approach and produce a "Telecommunity Center Kit," capturing lessons learned in the planning, development and evaluation of a telecommunity center to: - reduce long distance commute travel,
- provide people and businesses in at least one distressed rural community with improved
access to goods and services and job opportunities, - create a more livable, sustainable rural community, and
- promote economic growth in disadvantaged communities that would otherwise occur in
overcrowded urban areas. Several of Oregon's economically disadvantaged rural communities share a vision of creating local job opportunities with employers beyond their local areas through use of a telecommunity center furnished with computers and telecommunications equipment. This can benefit congested, urban areas by reducing urban commute travel while creating a broader labor pool of quality workers for urban employers. Through a partnership led by the Oregon Office of Energy, the proposed project will demonstrate an innovative approach integrating strategies for building sustainable communities and reducing travel demand. Previous Page |
