Upcoming virtual events: Remote Work & Resume Success

Join Utah State University Extension's Rural Online Initiative for two free, virtual events designed to help you explore remote work opportunities and improve your job search skills.

Remote Work Info Session

📅 May 28 | 🕐 1:00 PM | 📍 Zoom

This introductory session will walk you through the Rural Online Initiative (ROI) Program, our courses, certifications, and pathways to flexible employment. Learn how to start the ROI program and connect with flexible, remote job opportunities so you can work from anywhere.

Resume Critique & Insights Workshop

📅 June 3 | 🕛 12:00 PM | 📍 Zoom

If you've completed the Certified Remote Work Professional^© course or are actively applying for jobs, this live workshop is for you. Career experts from USU Extension and workforce services will review resumes and share tips on editing resume content, showcasing accomplishments, and formatting effectively. Bring your resume and leave with practical strategies to increase your chances of landing a remote job.

Reserve your spot today and take a meaningful step toward your career goals. Please forward this opportunity to someone else who is exploring remote work opportunities.

Partner Spotlight: Weave. Powering Remote Possibilities

This month we're shining the spotlight on Weave, a leading software development company and an exceptional partner in our mission to expand remote jobs to rural Utah.

Headquartered in Lehi, Utah, Weave is known for its cutting-edge products, award-winning innovation, and flexible work culture that includes remote, hybrid, and in-office roles. Through the Utah Works grant through Talent Ready Utah, Weave is helping us connect rural talent to real-world tech opportunities.

We’re grateful for their partnership and commitment to growing Utah's remote workforce. Thank you, Weave! You make remote work, work!

Want to partner with the ROI program?

If your company offers workforce development opportunities and is committed to strengthening Utah’s employee base, the Rural Online Initiative would like to connect. Partnering with us means engaging with skilled remote workers, supporting rural communities, and making a meaningful impact.

Reach out today to explore partnership opportunities.

Become a partner with ROI

📢 We're hiring: Proposal Development Specialist

Utah State University Extension is looking for a talented Proposal Development Specialist to join our team!

Location: Negotiable, Position Type: Benefited/Full-Time

In this role, you'll support USU Extension faculty and teams develop competitive grant proposals by providing comprehensive proposal development support services, including:

funding opportunity analysis,
project management and proposal development schedule,
writing support, including templates, editing, and drafting supplementary documents,
budget development support and Kuali entry.

If you're someone who can help build cross-campus networks, collaborate across disciplines, and offer support through training and content development, this could be a great fit. Experience managing proposals to federal, state, or private funders and collaborating with university research offices is a plus.

Apply for the role today

Know someone who'd be a great fit? Please share!

E-Commerce growth in rural Utah takes center stage at RUCC conference

On May 13, at the Rural Utah Chamber Coalition (RUCC) annual conference in Beaver City, Jacob Webb, ROI Program Business Consultant, delivered a high-impact presentation to a full house.

Representing the E-Commerce Accelerator (ECA), Jacob highlighted how the program supported 32 rural businesses over the past year who successfully launched e-commerce websites and started selling products online, driving new revenue streams and creating local jobs. Learning new digital tools has sparked real economic growth in rural Utah!

Know a rural small business that could thrive online?

Invite them to apply today: usuecommerce.com

Apply to ECA

Flexibility remains the norm in today's workplace

While the headlines suggest the "everyone's going back" narrative, the data tells a different story: 67% of U.S. companies still offer location flexibility, and structured hybrid is now the leading model at 43%. Only one-third of companies require full-time in-office attendance, according to the latest Flex Index Q2 report.

At the Rural Online Initiative, this confirms what we're already seeing: Flexible work is not a trend, it’s the future and present of work. That’s why we continue to equip Utah’s rural workforce with the tools, training, and support they need to succeed in a remote-first world.

The pendulum hasn’t swung nearly as far as the headlines suggest.

Explore the latest Flex Index report and see why our work matters more than ever.

Read report

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Mailing address:

Utah State University Extension - Washington County

339 South 5500 West

Hurricane, UT 84737

Utah State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution and is committed to a learning and working environment free from discrimination. For USU’s non-discrimination notice, see equity.usu.edu/non-discrimination.