The Center for Rural Economic Development & Emerging Technologies (CREDET) at Utah State University Extension helps rural Utah communities grow through research-based education, workforce innovation, entrepreneurial support, and community capacity building. Formed in 2025 by centralizing the Rural Online Initiative under CREDET, the center advances three focus areas: workforce development through remote work training and job placement; business development through the E-Commerce Accelerator; and community development through planning and proposal support. CREDET’s work helps rural residents secure better jobs, assists small businesses in expanding online sales, and strengthens local leaders’ ability to pursue broadband, infrastructure, telehealth, and funding opportunities.
Program Information
- Empowering Rural Utah Through Remote Work (YouTube)
- What is Remote Work? (YouTube)
- Program Dashboards
Demographic & Enrollments
Program Fidelity
Enrollments & Jobs Created - Evaluating Utah's Rural Online Initiative
Journal of Extension, Volume 60, Issue 3, 2022
- 2022 ROI Legislative Impact Sheet
- Workforce Development: Success Stories | Impact Dashboards
- Business Development: Success Stories
Trophy icon Award icon AWARDS Trophy icon Award icon
2024
Excellence in Educational Technology (Team)
from the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP), Regional and National level
2023
Excellence in Extension Engagement (Team)
from the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP)
Excellence in Community Development Work (Team)
from the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP), Regional and National level
2022
Hermes Creative Award, Platinum Winner (Team)
2021
Creative Excellence Award (Team)
from National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP)
Award for Innovation (Team)
from the National Extension Technology Community (NETC)
Distinguished Team Award
from Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP), Western Region and State level
Excellence in Workforce Development Programming Award (Team)
from the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP), Regional level
Diversity Award (Team)
from the Utah Association of Extension 4-H Workers (UAE4-HW)
Diversity Award (Team)
from the Utah Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (UEAFCS)
Marketing/Public Relations Award (Team)
from Utah Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (UEAFCS)
2020
Outstanding Contributor Award (Individual)
from the National Association of Extension Program and Staff Development Professionals (NAEPSDP)
Excellence in Extension (Individual)
from the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), Regional level
Award of Excellence in Extension Programming (Team)
from the Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA), Regional level
PUBLICATIONS
Ali, A. D., Narine, L. K., Hill, P. A., & Bria, D. C. (2023). Factors Affecting Remote Workers’ Job Satisfaction in Utah: An Exploratory Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(9), 5736. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095736
Ali, A. D., & Hill, P. A. (2023). The Remote Online Initiative: A Legislative Strategy for Rural Workforce Development in Utah. Outcomes and Impact Quarterly, 3(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.59620/2995-2220.1057
Ali, A. D., & Hill, P. (2021). The Rural Online Initiative: Short-term Outcomes of USU Extension Master Remote Work Leader Course. Outcomes and Impact Quarterly, 1(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/ 10.26077/8062-3fa8
Ali, A. D., & Hill, P. (2021). The Rural Online Initiative: Remote Work and COVID-19. Outcomes and Impact Quarterly, 1(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.26077/0402-9122
Hill, P. A., Ali, A. D., Narine, L. K., Schmutz, A. T., Riskas, T. M., & Spielmaker, D. M. (2022). Evaluating Utah's Rural Online Initiative: Empowering Organizational Leaders Through Remote Work. The Journal of Extension, 60(3), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.60.03.12
Hill, P., Ali, A. D., Narine, L. K., Spielmaker, D., & Schmutz, A. (2020). Evaluating Utah's Rural Online Initiative: Empowering Rural Communities Through Remote Work. The Journal of Extension, 58(5), Article 21. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.05.21
Schmutz, A. T., Campbell, A., Bean, A., Ali, A. D., Hill, P., & Swadley, E. (2022). Preparing Rural Youth for the Future of Work through Remote Work Education. Outcomes and Impact Quarterly, 2(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.26077/594f-ed1a
If you have updates to this page, please contact Kristin Hoch at kristin.hoch@usu.edu.