Watonga Works

Working closely with our city leaders, local library, schools, and technology providers, we want to enable more Watonga area residents to build their careers WITHOUT a relocation or long commute. 

Together, we can build an online / remote worker industry in Watonga, harmoniously alongside our existing mineral- and land-based industries. Check out our Remote Worker Training in which we introduce the concept of working for a remote employer. It's free! Register today!

FOR EXAMPLE: Imagine helping someone start a new business to make and sell just about anything to the world using online retail sites:

• Etsy: Metal Art for Sale

OR PERHAPS: Imagine if you loaned part of your existing building to an up-and-coming entrepreneur skilled in welding. 

• YouTube: Metal Art Welding

Enable Watonga area residents to: 

• WORK for a local OR remote employer
• START new online businesses
• IMPROVE online career skills
• GROW the local revenue base!

CAN YOU HELP? Please reach out to our Director of Career Development, Jona Arthur OR visit our Get Involved page and tell us how to contact you.

Why does this matter? The digital divide puts Watonga at a competitive disadvantage:

• Rural: Less Reliable Internet - harder to attract families to Watonga
• Lower Income: Digital Responsibility - less or no residential access to schools and libraries 

What is needed?

• leverage lessons learned from COVID-19 crisis 
• low-cost options for at-home internet and portable computing 
• permanent community accessible WiFi hot spots

How should this work? FCC Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP): 

• Pioneer Internet

This program is available across the country. Tell your friends both near and far!

• Comcast Internet Essentials
• Cox Low Cost Internet Plans
• Verizon ACP
• AT&T ACP 

In today's global marketplace, engaging remotely with customers, suppliers, partners and employers is officially a fundamental business requirement. This directly implies the need for not only business owners but also individual employees to acquire the skills necessary to perform in a remote setting. 

Read more about the trends and technologies enabling full-time remote offices and employees:

• FlexJobs: Remote Jobs
• Indeed: Best Remote Work

The bottom line: this is GREAT news for towns like Watonga. With the right infrastructure (close the digital gap), Watonga can attract and retain top talent. 

To help prepare individuals for building or moving their careers to a peaceful community setting like Watonga, our Foundation provides free of charge our Remote Worker Training in which we introduce the concept of working for a remote employer. It's free! Register today!

There are two ways to work remotely:

• in your home (not ideal for everyone)
• in a remote office known as a coworker space

The bottom line: Watonga can build coworker spaces to attract and retain a professional remote workforce. Without this, that same workforce will elect to live closer to towns that DO (think living in Kingfisher and driving to Edmond to a formal coworker office space):      

In Edmond: Coworker Edmond

In OKC: Coworker OKC 

Who will be next? Weatherford? El Reno? Why not Watonga?

Here are some online resources for learning about creating coworker spaces:

• The Basics: Coworking
• For Landlords: Space Works
• Economic Development: Tulsa Remote
• Example: Think Vermont

...with experience working online and conducting business in a remote setting, either as remote workers or entrepreneurs.

...suitable for conducting business online, enabling local workers and entrepreneurs to connect with remote clients and employers in a professional setting.

...for hands-on creation. Help our residents use their interests and talents to become local entrepreneurs and bring much-needed diversity to the local economy! 

...for further education and micro loans for new ENTREPRENEURS with great ideas! 

Step, up, pay it forward and secure Watonga's bright future as a great place to raise families! 

Reach out, tell your story and INSPIRE OTHERS! Do you make and sell goods online? Do you work remotely? Share your experience!