Mid-year recap from the first half of 2025

USU Extension's Rural Online Initiative (ROI) has been hard at work building pathways to opportunity across Utah. In the first half of 2025, we've connected with more rural communities, expanded our student base, grown our E-Commerce program, and celebrated major milestones.

Here's a look at what we've accomplished together so far this year.

Outreach overview

Between January and July 2025, ROI hosted more than 52 events, reaching 676 participants across 16 counties. These gatherings blended local in-person connections with statewide and virtual access, allowing rural Utahns to participate wherever they are.

Highlights included the largest virtual event, April’s Info Session with 69 attendees, and the largest in-person event, the Garfield and Piute School Career Fair, bringing together more than 50 students and community members.

ROI offered a diverse mix of programming from professional development workshops on resumes, cover letters, and tech skills to job fairs, a statewide conference, community events in rural counties, and information sessions with live Q&A, delivered both in-person and virtual.

ROI also joined multi-day celebrations, including Baby Animal Days in Cache County, Kanab Balloons & Tunes in Kane County, and Helper Vibes in Carbon County, engaging with hundreds of families in approachable, community-centered settings.

To keep this momentum going, we invite you to view our upcoming events, including another professional development activity scheduled for next week.

View upcoming events

Program impact: Building pathways to work and business

Graduates from 2025 cohorts are quickly finding employment, building on ROI's record of 698 graduates placed in jobs. From Carbon and Uintah to Sevier and Washington counties, these job placements show how rural talent is connected to meaningful career opportunities, demonstrating ROI's broad reach and impact.

View full impact report

Our graduates are proving the impact of ROI training every day.

The E-commerce Accelerator: Supporting rural businesses through e-commerce

Rural and agricultural entrepreneurs across Utah are building thriving e-commerce websites with the help of the E-Commerce Accelerator (ECA) program. In the first half of 2025, 21 entrepreneurs completed the program, gaining the skills to bring their products to the global market.

Since its launch in July 2023, the ECA has built 39 e-commerce websites, with 31 agricultural and rural businesses generating $633,416 in new revenue, and more in the pipeline! With 5 entrepreneurs currently in process and 52 queued participants, the program's momentum continues to grow.

View success stories

ROI’s work continues to gain recognition for its impact in rural workforce development. The Utah Statesman featured USU Extension and ROI's role in empowering rural communities through education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Read the article.

In June 2025, ROI was recognized by the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) for national leadership and collaboration in rural workforce development. See the award.

Our 2024 Annual Report also received a Platinum Hermes Award for excellence in communication and innovation. This is a testament to the powerful stories and outcomes being created across rural Utah.

Read the report

Preparing the next generation

ROI’s high school program equips Utah's youth with digital skills and confidence for the future of work. Since its launch, 39 students have enrolled, including 14 new students in 2025. With each new cohort, more youth are gaining early training in digital tools and career pathways.

Community spotlight: Sevier County Resource Fair

This spring, ROI joined community partners at the Sevier County Resource Fair, connecting directly with residents and sharing remote job opportunities. Events like these strengthen partnerships and expand access for rural families.

View more community partnerships

Looking ahead in 2025

As we have passed the mid-year mark, ROI is focused on the months ahead, bringing new learning opportunities and community connections across Utah.

Coming this Fall:

More in-person and virtual events
Certified Remote Work Professional^© course
Certified Remote Work Leader^© course
Expanding work-ready training to high school students
Job Club: Connect with skilled job coaches for one-on-one support

Don't miss out on more stories, more events, and more opportunities from ROI

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