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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