Federal dollars might become available for local job development programs, if the U.

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

Federal dollars might become available for local job development programs, if the U.S. Senate’s version of the farm bill is passed by the House and signed by the president. But pressure from constituents on members of Congress might be necessary to make it so, say discussion leaders.

Tuesday morning at Riverland Community College’s Albert Lea campus, a dozen local business and community leaders met with a member of Sen. Paul Wellstone’s staff and two other proponents of the Rural Telework proposal. Wellstone is sponsoring the legislation to provide matching funds for developing high tech jobs in rural areas of the United States.

The purpose of the legislation is to provide matching funds to allow rural communities to take advantage of new telecommunications technologies to promote high-tech careers in rural areas, said Josh Syrjamaki, Wellstone’s policy liaison. The focus would be on building centers that would help link employers with qualified potential employees.

&uot;It would encourage communities and companies to make use of telecommunications to bring work to where people live,&uot; he said.

At stake for Freeborn County is a potential source of funding to help make ideas for local job creation initiatives a reality, said Jean Eaton, Executive Director of the United Way of Freeborn County.

&uot;Albert Lea already has all the pieces that are being talked about – the community college, the business incubator, Workforce Development, Mayo Health Systems,&uot; she said.

One model for what could happen here can be seen in Mankato, at the Technology Plus Center. Layne Hopkins, Technology Plus’s -president, was present to provide details of their program. After one year of operation, the Mankato center is turning away prospective tenants and is talking of expanding their current facility, he said.

Hopkins stressed that there are many jobs in the information technology sector of the economy that are vacant or are filled by workers from outside the United States. He pointed out that there are many qualified, but underemployed workers right here in rural America. A Rural Telework program might also bring some young people who left rural communities to come home.

&uot;You can’t keep them from seeing the bright lights of the big city, but a ‘come home’ program makes a whole lot of sense,&uot; Hopkins said.

Hopkins also stressed that inviting participation from all the communities in the area can help make a stronger program.

Cy Carpenter, from Bloomington, also spoke to the group. He is one of the originators of the Rural Telework proposal, which was refined with input from people throughout the state. His main message was that if people here want to see a program like the Rural Telework proposal become reality, then they need to start calling their legislators now.

&uot;It depends on what you want. If you want something to happen, you’re going to have to make an effort in support of this, otherwise it ain’t going to happen,&uot; Carpenter said.

&uot;I think this is very important. I remember in the past up in the Iron Range where I’ve seen what they’ve done when mining operations have shut down … it’s worked there, it should work here,&uot; said Allen Pelvit, Executive Director of the Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.

According to Syrjamaki, the proposal is expected to pass the Senate sometime in the next couple of weeks, but then faces the hurdle of the House-Senate conference committee. The House’s version of the farm bill doesn’t include a proposal like Wellstone’s, he said.