By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News
In the age of the internet, e-commerce options have carved out a hefty space in the world of small business. This can leave startups struggling to find a solution to a problem that may be unfamiliar to them. Recognizing this, Utah State University Extension has launched the Rural Online Initiative, a program that has assisted rural businesses to surpass $1 million in total online sales.
“The ECA program provides hands-on technical assistance and personalized mentoring to help clients adopt digital tools, build websites, and develop sustainable e-commerce strategies that expand market reach and strengthen long-term business growth,” reads a press release from USU
“Over the six-week ECA program experience, clients work one-on-one with USU Extension experts to build online storefronts, set up digital payment and fulfillment systems, and connect digital platforms. Experts provide the technical assistance and mentoring needed to turn e-commerce into a sustainable strategy that business owners can confidently manage, measure, and grow independently long after the program ends.”
The program has assisted businesses in rural areas across the state, including in the Castle Country, with companies such as Blue Sage Training and Safety and Blue Mountain Chiropractic, as well as larger, statewide industries such as Beau’s Auto Parts and the Utah Pork Producers Association.
In addition to the web development skills covered in the course, the Rural Online Initiative also educates business owners in analytics and digital marketing.
“Finding the ECA program has been game changing for my small Duchesne County business,” shared Kiersten Monks of B & KM Farm. “We’ve gotten so many more sales from our website since we began working the ECA about a year ago. We have made over $8,000 in online sales alone.”
Since launching in 2023, the initiative has helped launch over 50 fully functioning online storefronts, with 85% of participating businesses reporting an increase in online sales. The waitlist to join the initiative is 80 businesses long, with many more companies looking to enter the fray daily.
However, the program is seeking additional funding from the Utah state legislature, which fully funded it upon its launch in 2023 for a three-year pilot. Despite waiting for word on future financing, the program has received high praise from state leaders, including Gov. Spencer Cox, who referred to the initiative as ”one of the best rural economic development initiatives that we’ve done in the history of the state of Utah.”
For more information on the Rural Online Initiative, visit usuecommerce.com.