In the News February 26, 2001
Douglas Recognized as
Model for Technology-Led Economic Development
Douglas, Wyoming has been selected as one
of 12 communities nationwide by the National Center for
Small communities (NCSC) for its research on Technology-Led
Economic Development in rural communities. Douglas and the
other 11 communities were recognized because of their emphasis
on using technology to enhance their local economic development
efforts. No other Wyoming community was selected.
“While this selection could easily have been for other communities,
we are excited that the hard work of many individuals in
Douglas is being recognized,” said Joe Coyne, Executive
Director of the Converse Area New Development Organization
(CANDO). CANDO is the local economic development agency
for Douglas and Converse County, Wyoming.
“Our community leaders have strongly supported technology
and economic development for a long time. That support has
been and will continue to be the key to our success, just
like it has been and will be in any other community,” added
Coyne.
The NCSC is funded by the Economic Development Agency (an
agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce), to produce two
useful products for future economic development efforts
across the country: (1) a collection of 12 in-depth case
studies on technology-led economic development drawn from
rural America; and (2) a Best Practices publication (32-40
pages) that identifies and describes the most effective
technology-led economic development strategies for rural
communities. Both products will be accessible on the NCSC
Web site, found at .
Douglas was chosen primarily because of the community’s
development and growth of the CANDO Tech Center, which provides
technical training to the area’s workforce. CANDO brought
the technology training initiative to reality last year,
training dozens of area youth, businesses and individuals
in their state of the art facility.
Douglas’ bid to become a best practices model was bolstered
by the community ’s broadband cable modem Internet access,
provided by local ISP CommuniComm Services. Broadband Internet
access is not widely available in Wyoming or other parts
of the country.
CANDO is currently developing a number of innovative training
programs to further strengthen the area’s workforce. Those
programs include creation of CANDO’s “Home-to-Careers” program,
which provides computers, Internet access and training to
low-income families. The Home-to-Careers program has received
federal funding from the State of Wyoming’s TANF program.
Another innovative training program that CANDO has begun
is Project CREATE: Creating Real Experience with Advanced
Training & Employment. Project CREATE has received funding
from the state School-to-Careers program. It will develop
a student-based technology “temp” service, where local high
school students will be trained to work as teams to complete
short-term technology projects for local businesses.
For more information, contact:
Joe Coyne, Executive Director
Converse Area New Development Organization
(307) 358-6520
E-mail: CANDO@netcommander.com
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