As with many elements in the current American climate, the Urban-Rural divide is growing wider than ever. Countryside communities consistently have higher poverty rates, fewer job opportunities and more disabilities that prevent workability. To combat climbing unemployment and urban migration rates, government officials are beginning to think creatively about how to stimulate rural economies, and, true to our Pioneer heritage, the State of Utah is blazing the trail for innovative solutions.
Darin Bushman, county commissioner in Piute County, Utah, was elected to office in one of the smallest, most poverty-stricken counties in Utah. As he evaluated economic strengths and weaknesses, he discovered that while there were very talented people in the county, many were underemployed, unemployed, had dropped out of the workforce, or were geographically bound because a spouse was employed in the county, but there were no employment options for the other potential wage earner.
“I sat in my office posting a freelance job offer, and it hit me – why can’t our citizens, with skills to offer, be the ones doing this job rather than someone halfway around the world?” he said. “Our local people can be the ones taking advantage of these online opportunities and marketing their skills outside the bounds of their current geography.”
While discussing the idea with the Vice-President of a Utah State University – Extension, the Rural Online Initiative was born to fulfill a simple purpose – educate rural businesses workers on how to qualify for online job opportunities. In March 2018, Governor Gary Herbert signed House Bill 327 to fund the project in an effort to solve the exportation crisis of young adults moving away from rural counties in the State of Utah in search of sustainable employment.
The Rural Online Initiative is the nation’s first government-funded remote work education program that strategizes the impact of freelancing, entrepreneurship, and offsite employment to stimulate local economic development. The 1-month certification course teaches participants the skills required to function successfully in a remote work environment. Participants learn everything from effective communication techniques for team collaboration to specific software tools commonly used in telework settings. The course also assists participants in their preparation to find and interview for legitimate remote jobs, bid on online freelance jobs, or start an ecommerce business. By participating in the Rural Online Initiative program, all members of Utah’s workforce can better understand what remote work is, what the dynamics are required in virtual jobs, and what the benefits of this new work model are for workers, businesses, and economies.
As the foundation of the Rural Online Initiative, the Master Remote Work Professional certification equips Utah’s rural workforce with education and resources necessary to prepare for, find, and obtain virtual work opportunities. This is accomplished by facilitating workers, businesses, and cities/counties through an online training course and job search that takes about 6-8 hours per week for a month. At the end of their experience with the Rural Online Initiative, participants should be able to enjoy the full benefits of virtual jobs, including:
- Higher Income
- Lower stress
- Advancement opportunities
- Work-life balance
- Extended working age
In 2020, the Rural Online Initiative will also be releasing the Master Remote Work Leader certification that will educate businesses on how to convert on-site roles to be remote-friendly. This additional course is designed for business owners and managers and will support the growing demand for virtual jobs, by supporting local entrepreneurship, connecting workers with local virtual job opportunities, and educating businesses on how to update their operational models to be remote-friendly. By participating in the Rural Online Initiative, businesses and organizations should be able to enjoy the full benefits of distributed operations, including:
- Job accessibility and employee retention
- Lower overhead and recruiting costs
- Cultural diversity
- Environmental sustainability
- Natural disaster recovery
Based on the projections and desired impact of the Rural Online Initiative, an initial goal was established to enroll 50 participants between October and December 2018, a goal that seemed quite lofty for the initial rollout of a new program that had not been previously offered or marketed. However, the level of interest and support from rural Utah greatly exceeded initial expectations as Program Coordinators began meeting with community members and local leaders. To the delight of the ROI staff, the final number enrolled was almost four times the initial target, with a final number of 190 participants in the first quarter.
Since then, nearly 1,000 rural Utahns have participated in the “ROI” program to learn more about virtual work opportunities and are enjoying significant life changes as a result. One Duschene County resident reports, “This program gives me so much hope. Before learning about the Rural Online Initiative program, I had decided my only option was to leave the county and move to Salt Lake, but I can now see exciting possibilities and opportunities I had not even considered.”
To learn more about the Rural Online Initiative, visit remoteworkcertificate.com to find a local Program Coordinator or enroll in the remote work certification programs.