PORT HADLOCK — A Web site has been launched to capture the attention of young people and find out how to make them more at home in Jefferson County.
RhodyRevolution.com is a social networking site recently released by a team of young-adults working for the Washington State University Extension Center in Port Hadlock.
Their goal is to bring members of the younger generation in Jefferson County into contact with one another, and to disprove the myth that this is only a retirement community.
“We always hear about people our age who want to live here, but seem to think it’s impossible,” said Shelby Smith, one of those working on Rhody Revolution.
“At the same time, we hear businesses saying they need jobs and young workers.
“Where is the disconnect there?”
Employees at the Extension center and Team Jefferson, an economic development council for Jefferson County, are hoping this Web site — which is funded primarily by the Extension center — can help answer that question.
Smith said the site will offer the opportunity for comment on what needs to be done to attract a younger population to Jefferson County and to keep young adults between 18 and 40 in the area.
“We want you to become a member, and ask what you want from the area,” Smith said.
Kai Wallin, who is also working on the site, said she believes it’s time for a shift in the way communities view economic growth and development.
“We want to use the site to discuss challenges and obstacles people have with moving to the area,” Wallin said.
The data will be presented to Team Jefferson, which can then present the problems to the City Council, county commissioners and chambers of commerce.
“It gives the young adults in the community a chance to share the problems they see with moving to and living in the region,” Wallin said.
The group believes that, by collecting this data, government groups and private agencies in Jefferson County can begin to focus on what is needed to attract and retain a more youthful demographic.
“We just don’t know what [the problems] really are yet,” Wallin said.
“Is it affordable housing, jobs, transportation?
“The site will tell us that.
“The people who join will tell us that.”
