Nuances of Rural versus
Urban Programs:
Oregon Perspective
2009 National Weatherization Training Conference
July 20-23, 2009 Indianapolis, Indiana
What’s a nuance any way?
•A subtle or slight degree of difference, as
in meaning, feeling, or tone; a gradation.
•Expression or appreciation of subtle
shades of meaning, feeling, or tone.
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Oregon Weatherization Program
Overview
• Operate via 17 agencies and 5 tribes.
• Oregon Housing and Community Services Department
administers.
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Defining Urban and Rural
Oregon?
• A detailed definition would include those
counties and towns considered rural or
urban as defined by certain population
levels.
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The Geography Factor
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The Geography Factor
• Affects the agency’s local visibility and/or
the “social capital”.
• its claim on economic resources.
• the variety of homes and building types it
serves is related to location and climate.
• could effect crew based versus contractor
based delivery modes of operation.
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The Economic Capacity Factor
• Local economy cannot
sustain increased
funding, due to lack of
businesses and trained
professionals.
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An Oregon rural challenge
• Community in Action (newest non-profit for Oregon.)
• Serves Harney and Malhuer counties.(rural locales.)
• 35% of rural weatherization funding ends up being reallocated to urban service territories.
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An Oregon rural solution
• Expand social capital and leverage the
“power of sub-recipients.”
• Sub-recipients play role as “psuedo-satellite
offices”.
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An Oregon urban challenge
*Urban multi-family projects cost nearly
twice as much as rural.
*Davis Bacon rates change the landscape.
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