Cloud-based marketplace company Pax8 set up its first remote work hub at the Emergent Campus in Florence, Colo., and continues to hire largely for remote jobs. In doing so, it accesses a larger pool of qualified applicants and provides equal access to career growth for rural Coloradans and beyond. 

Companies interested in hiring remotely can be proactive about helping their remote employees integrate into the local community. 

“Rural Colorado offers tech founders and remote workers a lower cost of living, easy access to the outdoors, and high speed internet connectivity. In addition, the remote economy allows for founders to recruit talent anywhere, while pulling from resources (funding, mentorship, etc) available in larger cities.”

– Leif Ullman, President of Ullman Technologies (Colorado Springs)

Networking

Colorado as a whole has been a tech magnet and incubator for well over a decade. More than 272,000 Colorado-based workers are employed by the tech sector (as of 2021), and that number is growing. This shows that there is already a vast network of highly skilled, Colorado-based candidates. 

One such networking opportunity exists with West Slope Technologists, Founded by tech executive and coder, Justin Lewis, in 2017, the group exists to network, to share opportunities, and to “…support the sustainability and growth of the local economy by ensuring that organizations have access to diverse technical knowledge and skills.” 

It should be acknowledged that the autonomy of remote work can feel socially isolating to some people. Companies can be proactive about helping their remote employees network professionally and integrate into the local community. That may include sharing lists of local business roundtables, niche groups (like West Slope Technologists), and professional organizations based in the community. It may also include providing benefits, like: paid volunteer days, gym memberships, gift cards to local restaurants, or other experience-based bonuses that support a healthy social network. 

Co-Working Spaces

Some people prefer to conduct their remote work outside of their home office. Many rural Colorado communities have coworking spaces that provide reliable, high-speed internet, a professional setting, and social opportunities for those who miss the social aspects of working in an office. For the rare, very rural areas in Colorado with unreliable internet speeds, co-working spaces are usually more affordable than a Starlink subscription. 

As part of this remote tech evolution, these co-working spaces are moving beyond the “rent-a-desk” approach and becoming networking hubs that can range from virtual offices and events spaces (JXN Station, Grand Junction) to comprehensive mentoring and incubators (CoVenture, Carbondale). 

The Emergent Campus, located in an historic building in Florence, envisions a complete “live, work, play” environment. The founders are working toward a collaborative culture of growth for all businesses, with offerings of: consultation, incubation and shared fixed-cost services.