While I am late to the converation, I want to add my two cents! I have a very unique perspective, as I have a back ground in agriculture and coworking and have worked in very urban environments. Two of the biggest challenges to the rural enviroments are (1.) How to keep young adults on the farm to keep it the family and (2.) How to make small towns cool. Coworking can aid these two facets via:
(1.) The family farms can achieve increased revenue through internet sales of produce, whether it would be salsa, summer sausage or cheese. While farmers can't milk their cows at a coworking station, farmers can become members and have access to wi-fi, marketing advice, etc. thus, it is important for the coworking sites to tap into the agricultural markets, and assist young agricultural professionals with their agriculture work, and even older generations who wish to hand down the family farm. The key here is to be proactive about creating a strong saavy tech scene that allows farmers to become members, and utilize the knowledge of coworkers and the WiFi (high speed internet is not available without costly satelite services in many places) without an absorbant cost. (2.) Rural communities struggle greatly at hipness! Young people often leave for the big city for the arts and music scenes, yet some of these young people yearn for the quiet nights that small towns bring. The ability of having a coworking space that can double at bringing an arts and music scene, via art nights, etc. to the area provides young people with the nightlife they crave, without the relocation costs. Thanks, Jodi Dean -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
