Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice represents Douglas, Jackson, Josephine and Klamath Counties
The Rogue Valley in the 21st Century
Rogue River Valley located in Southern Oregon, part of the State of Jefferson (or the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion). Jefferson is thought to be made up of Northern California and Southern Oregon, the Southern Cascade, Siskyou and Trinity mountain ranges, the Klamath and Rogue River valleys, the Northern California Coast, and the Southern Oregon Coast. These regions are quite a distance from the major population centers of their respective states, and incidentally, from established alternative media content such as Democracy Now or Air America. This region is very different than the areas to the North and to the South, both in geography and culture.
As communities struggle to meet fiscal changes with ever-decreasing funds they must adopt more business-like models that emphasize focusing on collaborations. Communities must become more competitive and be prepared to enter new markets.
Self-reliant population.
Jackson County is the unquestioned leader for self-employment ratios among Oregon’s 10 metropolitan counties. In 2004 13% of Jackson County workers were self-employed. US average is 8.6%. No other metro county in Oregon reaches even 10%
Homeownership is 73% in Jackson County
Median household income $31,846 in Jackson County
Population growth
Jackson County’s population growth has outpaced the Oregon and national averages.
149,000 Adults in Jackson County
75800 Households in Jackson County
Youth (age 15-24) Jackson County totals 25,353.
2 out of every 5 newcomers to Southern Oregon were youth.
Jackson County’s growth rate is projected to spike after 2005.
Family-wage jobs must be the rule … not the exception.
For every $100 spent locally, local business gives back $68 to local economy, while for every $100 spent in national chains those shores return only $43. Source: livingeconomies.org
In the Rogue Valley, tourism constitutes a critical part of the local economy.
Ashland, Oregon - Ashland is the perfect community for an on-line, citizen media outlet to thrive in. Unlike most cities in the U.S., the City of Ashland owns its own utilities. As home of the world-renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the city attracts nearly 125,000 visitors each year. The City of Ashland, well-known for its technological prowess, has already invested in an advanced telecommunications network, offering a user-friendly Web site complete with almost every tool one would need for keeping abreast of the city’s public business. By doing so, the city is among the most “wired”in the nation. This town loves to stay abreast of local affairs and is very community-spirited. It also has the technological savvy to support such a cutting edge medium. Indeed, the city government is actively seeking such businesses. Ashland now has a grand opportunity to lay the foundations for a prosperous and secure future.
