The fellows will undertake broadband connectivity and digital inclusion projects to champion digital equity in the rural communities
Led by Land O’Lakes, Inc. and Lead For America (LFA) – and in partnership with organizations like TCCA – ACC is a new, innovative fellowship program focused on bridging the digital divide. As part of the national network, ACC fellows will receive premiere national training on community organizing, broadband and digital inclusion, as well as access to a network of LFA leaders nationwide.
The TCCA-sponsored fellows will work to increase broadband access and digital literacy for the rural communities by using existing infrastructure to replicate across the counties and maximizing fiber-to-home connectivity. The fellows are part of a national ACC effort that will deploy over 50 Fellows to serve as community leaders and champions of digital equity across the country.
Oregon’s rural communities are underserved when it comes to broadband. According to the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council 2020 report, while most
In general, Oregon’s urban areas are served by multiple broadband internet service providers at speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload or better. Rural and frontier areas of the state are served by fewer providers and typically at slower speeds of at least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload, or they are unserved altogether.
Below are quotes from partners and stakeholders making this program possible:
- Patrick Criteser, President and CEO, Tillamook County Creamery Association: “Stewardship is the heart and soul of TCCA. Since our founding in 1909, our farmers have done right by their families and their communities, and as such, have structured their cooperative to be a force for good in the world. We are honored to give back in meaningful ways to the communities where we live and work with worthy initiatives such as this important broadband access fellowship program.”
- Tillamook County Commissioner David Yamamoto: “Tillamook County is elated to have such critical partnerships with companies like the Tillamook County Creamery Association that understand the need for high-speed internet connectivity for our residents. This two-year Lead for America fellowship position, provided by TCCA, will add capacity at the county level to help us bridge the digital divide for our residents while also affording our fellow a thorough grasp of the key roles of local government and other regional institutions in growing and sustaining a vibrant community. This project is destined to be a pivotal moment in the economic development of Tillamook County.”
- Morrow County Commissioner Melissa Lindsay: “Morrow County is very excited to be involved by hosting a Fellow to work with our Broadband partners in the area toward connectivity for our citizens as a top priority. Tillamook County Creamery Association has been a great partner in Morrow County and this important work should prove to be another success in Morrow County, with the Fellow in the lead to help keep the momentum moving. We have made this a top priority for some time and look forward to the ability to have someone in the forefront of our efforts. Access has become a basic need from education to mental and physical health and we, with our partners, are committed to working diligently on this effort.”
- U.S. Sen Ron Wyden, D-Ore: “I’m gratified that Tillamook and Morrow counties have earned this support to bolster broadband connections for Oregonians living and working in remote rural communities. Quality Internet connections are a must for quality-of-life issues such as access to economic and educational opportunities throughout our state. These broadband fellows will provide important human links to help achieve this essential technology objective.”
- Oregon Governor Kate Brown: “Broadband has become the entry point to the economy and we want to make sure it’s accessible to all. The American Connection Corps (ACC) fellowship program seeks to bolster statewide efforts at the local level working to bridge the digital divide. I want to thank Tillamook County Creamery Association and Lead For America for their commitment to building digital equity through the ACC program, and for working with my office to invest in underserved communities in Oregon.”
- Joe Nail, CEO and co-founder of Lead For America: “Lead For America is on a mission to build a generation of civic leaders dedicated to tackling the toughest challenges facing the communities they call home—and we are excited to bring our Hometown Fellowship model to communities in Morrow and Tillamook counties this year. The coronavirus pandemic underscored the importance of both leadership and of closing the digital divide in rural and urban communities across America. We are honored to partner with Land O’Lakes and the other American Connection Corps partners in placing 50 dynamic, and locally rooted leaders in the communities and places that helped raise them. We are committed to ensuring this initiative becomes a pathway home for outstanding Oregonians for many years to come.”
ACC is led in conjunction with LFA and funded through the support of 20 partner organizations in addition to TCCA, including: Land O’Lakes, Heartland Forward, CoBank, Tractor Supply Company, Microsoft, Mayo Clinic, Ariel Investments, Scoular, CHS, Zoetis, Accenture, University of Minnesota, the American Farm Bureau Federation, Midwest Dairy, Purdue University, Partners for Education, CentraCare, Common Sense Media and University of Illinois Extension. For general information on the ACC, please visit: https://www.lead4america.org/american-connection-corps
About Lead for America
Lead For America (LFA) is a national nonprofit that helps outstanding young people become civic leaders. LFA seeks to direct homegrown talent where it’s needed most — in towns and counties where challenges outpace resources available — often in rural and under-resourced communities. Through their flagship two-year paid Fellows program, LFA has funded and placed over 100 Fellows in over 80 communities and 30 states in newly created positions in their home communities since 2019, and plan to have 100 additional Fellows starting in 2021. Combined, LFA Fellows have leveraged more than
$17 million for their communities and impacted the lives of more than 13.5 million people. Lead For America’s national headquarters is located in Dodge City, Kansas.
About Tillamook County Creamery Association
Founded in 1909 as a farmer-owned cooperative, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) recently achieved the distinction as a Certified B Corporation® (B Corp™) and prides itself on its commitment to bringing to market the most consistent, best tasting, highest quality dairy products made in the most natural way possible. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves real food that makes them feel good every day, Tillamook® produces internationally recognized, award-winning cheese as well as exceptional ice cream, butter, cream cheese spreads, yogurt and sour cream, made with unwavering values that never sacrifice or compromise quality for profit. TCCA is owned by almost 80 farming families, primarily based in Tillamook County, Oregon. TCCA operates production facilities in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon and employs more than 900 people throughout the state. The Tillamook Creamery is the largest tourist attraction on the coast of Oregon and one of the most popular in the state, attracting more than one million visitors each year. For more information on TCCA and Tillamook, visit Tillamook.com.
About Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s premier agribusiness and food companies, is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. With 2020 annual sales of $14 billion, Land O’Lakes is one of the nation’s largest cooperatives, ranking 219 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 99 years of operation, Land O’Lakes today operates some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods, Purina Animal Nutrition, WinField United and Truterra. The company does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Land O’Lakes, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Arden Hills, Minnesota.
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