Information Technology Training
and Employment Program for
Rural Communities
Presented by
Mel Ustad
Associate Dean of Research
University of South Dakota
Strengthening & Building Partnerships for Workforce Development
March 5, 2003
Orlando, Florida
Rural Information Technology
Employment (RITE) Link
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National Science Foundation Information
Technology Research/Workforce Development
Project
Objective
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Develop and test a model IT
education/training/economic development
program for rural communities utilizing distance
education and telecommunications technologies
for education and employment of IT workers.
Project Partners
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University of South Dakota
Sitting Bull Community College
Consortium of K-12 Schools
IT Businesses & Entrepreneurs
Economic Development Organizations
University Researchers & Technology
Entrepreneurships Programs
RITE Link Process
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Recruit rural communities & participants-Six
rural communities & over 700 participants
Create community IT profile
Screen participants-150 participants
Provide IT training to selected participants
Recruit IT business partners
IT business partner employs IT training
participant
Findings
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Rural community interest is high.
Existing education and IT skill level of 700
rural residents interested in the program was
high. (70% Post Secondary Ed)
81% of the 150 training participants have
post secondary education.
77% of IT training participants are female.
Findings Continued
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Infrastructure is adequate in most rural Midwest
communities.
With the tech sector slowdown large IT business
interest has declined remote employees but
outsource more work.
The business focus has sifted to entrepreneurial
development and alternative partners, smaller IT
companies.
Facilitating a change in the IT business culture and
structure is difficult.
New Initiatives
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RITE Team Association—Organized by
participants to market IT skills.
Non-Profit Membership organization
RITE Link Participants
Communities interested in IT based
economic development.
RITE Resource, Inc. (RRI)
Something Was Still Missing
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The RITE-Team Association to date has had limited
success.
It is apparent that several key elements are missing
from their efforts:
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A full-time sales and marketing effort to win large scale
consulting bids and build business partner relationships
People to form and manage the project teams delivering the
consulting services
The infrastructure necessary to support these teams whose
members may be distributed in rural areas
RITE Resource, Inc. (RRI)
Our Mission
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Provide clients world-class e-Business consulting,
application development and hosting services
Provide employment and consulting opportunities for
USD, DSU and RITE-Link program graduates
Provide higher-paying jobs for these individuals who
chose to live in rural communities
Provide solid earnings to our shareholders while
being a good corporate citizen
RITE Resource, Inc. (RRI)
Target Markets
RRI will go to where the business is:
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Initial markets of Sioux Falls, Sioux City & Omaha
have a population base of 1.5 million. RRI must
prove its model in these markets in its first year
Then we can expand to markets within a one-day
drive including Kansas City, Davenport, Des Moines,
& Minneapolis (5.5 million people)
Then to markets within a two-day drive including
Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Denver and
Colorado Springs (16.5 million)
RITE Resource, Inc. (RRI)
Services Offered
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Software application development for eBusiness using Java
Architecture, design and business analysis
Project management services
Web-based application hosting services
Quality Assurance testing services
Telephone customer support services
RITE Resource, Inc. (RRI)
Funding Needed
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RRI stock allocated to three groups:
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RRI Management & employees (40%),
reserved for future needs (20%)
initial investors including USD, RITE-Team Association and
five communities (40%)
GOED Future Fund grant dollars match community
investments.
Existing facilities used in many communities.
Low infrastructure costs.
University Research and
Technology Entrepreneurs
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N2TEC partnership links university research
and technology entrepreneurs to rural
communities to identify and explore IT and
technology based opportunities.
Internet based venture presentations by
technology entrepreneurs
Expose rural communities to technology
based entrepreneurship
Provides university based technology
entrepreneurs to additional funding and
support opportunities.
Unique Features of Project
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Communities collaborating rather than
competing.
Large research universities involved in rural
development efforts.
Entrepreneurial Economic Development
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Communities & universities have equity
Employees have equity
Focus on building 21st century technology
high paying jobs rather than attracting 20th
century declining industries
Focus on quality of life in rural communities
K-12 Project Activities
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TechTown—IT use and career
exploration website & lesson plans for
elementary school students
CyberSpace Camp—Internet based
summer and after school program that
allows students to explore IT advances,
their community and IT
entrepreneurship opportunities.
Additional Information
Mel Ustad
Principal Investigator
Associate Dean of Research
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD 57069
605-677-5370
Gustad@usd.edu
Project Website: www.ritelink.dsu.edu