Ashland OR - OEDA Press Releases 2006

November 13, 2006: ASHLAND, Ore. — Well known for its world-class theater and much-sought-after quality of life, the southern Oregon city of Ashland is now receiving global attention as a model for economic development in the 21^st Century. Named a 2007 Smart21 Community by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), Ashland is one of just 21 communities throughout the world, and one of five in the United States, to be selected from hundreds of applicants.

Ashland’s Smart21 Community designation is the first step towards greater recognition as a community that is either positioning itself to prosper, or is already prospering, in the broadband economy.

"Given the leadership and expertise around the world in the field of broadband and telecommunications, it is quite remarkable and satisfying to be included in such a prestigious group of cities," said Mayor John Morrison. "The Ashland Fiber Network is essential to this community as we continue to diversify our economic development strategies."

The basis for Ashland’s designation as a Smart21 Community began in 1997 when city leaders approved the creation of the Ashland Fiber Network, resulting in one of the most technologically advanced communities of its size in the nation. The new network not only provided residents and businesses with digital cable television and high-speed internet access years before larger communities, it also enabled Ashland to diversify its economic base that had previously been highly dependent upon the tourism industry.

Although the Ashland Fiber Network was initiated and created by the City, an open-access philosophy was adopted to engage local businesses in the project. This philosophy resulted in nine local Internet Service Providers that entered into partnerships with the city to provide Internet access to local residents and businesses. Currently more than 5,000 households and businesses, representing more than 50 percent of all city addresses, have an active high-speed Internet connection.

“This early vision by the city and local business leaders provides local companies a competitive advantage when doing business globally,” said Sandra Slattery, executive director of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. “This, coupled with the resources available through Southern Oregon University, makes Ashland particularly attractive to high-tech companies and others who are seeking a great quality of life, a highly educated workforce and cutting-edge communications technology.”

The cities that were selected as Smart21 Communities are located in twelve nations on four continents ranging in population from 20,000 to 7 million. Other communities that received the designation during a reception held on November 13, 2006, at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manhattan, include:

Bettendorf, Iowa

Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Corpus Christi, Texas

Dundee, Scotland, UK

Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Hong Kong, China

Ichikawa, Japan

Isle of Man

Issy les Moulineaux, France

Jia Ding, China

Kabul, Afghanistan

Kariskrona, Sweden

Loma Linda, California

Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario, Canada

Reykjavik, Iceland

San Francisco, California

Sunderland, UK

Tallinn, Estonia

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Whittlesea, Victoria, Australia

The announcement of the Smart21 Communities is the first stage of ICF’s annual Intelligent Community of the Year award, which will be presented in May 2007.

Ashland, with a population of 20,880 (December 2005), is located approximately 15 miles north of the California border on Interstate 5, the state’s major north-south freeway. The city is

internationally known as the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which attracts more than 120,000 visitors annually. It also is home to a thriving community of visual and performing(more) artists, world-class restaurants and the 100-acre Lithia Park located in the center of the city. An additional 250,000 people visit Ashland for its other recreational attractions such as downhill skiing at Mt. Ashland, river rafting and jet boat rides on the Rogue and Klamath Rivers, and fishing in the area’s many pristine mountain lakes. The city also is a short drive from Crater Lake National Park and the southern Oregon coast.

Southern Oregon University (SOU) plays a large part in Ashland’s economic health, with approximately 5,000 students and 750 faculty and staff. SOU provides business counseling and assistance to more than 450 businesses per year throughout southern Oregon through its Small Business Development Center. The University partners with more than 200 private, public and government organizations to provide education and training that improves the quality of life in the region.

The City of Ashland and the Chamber of Commerce encourage the diversification of markets. Establishment of light manufacturing firms with value-added components, sophisticated services catering to a geographically dispersed clientele, and retailing targeted to local residents, are especially encouraged.