| Telecommunity Centers in Oregon |
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Telework, working from home or a location closer to home, rather than traveling to an office, has become an accepted work option for more than 54 percent of Oregon employers. It is also a viable option for dying rural Oregon communities where people are being forced to move to urban areas for employment. If employers could hire workers in the rural community who would telework from a telecommunity center, everyone could win. The employer would have access to more workers, the workers would have jobs, and the community would benefit economically
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 Department of Energy, a project was completed demonstrating an innovative approach to integrating strategies for building sustainable communities and reducing travel demand. The goal of the project was to create a replicable model of planning, start-up and evaluation activities necessary to establish successful telecommunity centers. This was a community-based project intended to increase the value of living in a rural community. It brought together local, state and federal government partners working with businesses, education and citizens. Objectives of this project included reduced commute travel; increased access to new jobs and business opportunities; and strengthened rural communities where people can live, work and obtain services and products without relocating or having to drive long distances.
The Oregon Telecommunity Center Project produced a replicable model for planning and developing a telecommunity center to reduce travel demand while increasing access to jobs. The project assessed the needs of specific Oregon rural communities that can be served by technology and network services through a telecommunity center.
The project was originally split into two phases because of funding limitations. The 2000 grant application requested $639,000 and received $125,000. Phase I of the project used the 2000 grant funds and included Grant, Clackamas, and Klamath Counties. Clackamas County has established telecommunity centers in Molalla, Canby, and Estacada. Klamath Falls completed a needs assessment and draft business plan. Remodel of the Grant County center is complete. Grant County is negotiating with a transcription company to employ five local people at the center doing medical transcription. The facility can house up to 15 workstations. In addition, neighboring Harney County is working with the same company to employ seven local people doing medical transcription. The Harney County Education Service District has a technology center and is making plans to house the transcriptionists.
For more information on this project, view the "Telecommunity Center Development: A Guide to Starting a Telecommunity Center in Your Community" and "Telecommunity Center Project Evaluation."
The Guide is a comprehensive resource to assist communities, governmental agencies, and business professionals in developing telecommunity centers. The Evaluation reviews the development of the Clackamas County telecommunity centers in Canby and Molalla. It discusses the process, the product and the outcome of the projects.
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Telecommunity Report
(A guide to starting a telecommunity center) (pdf)
Evaluation of Clackamas County Telecommunity Center (pdf)
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