Building Internet Resilience from the Ashes of the Holiday Farm Fire

Blue River, the hub of the McKenzie River Valley in rural Lane County, Oregon, is no stranger to natural disasters. In September 2020, this former mining and timber town burned to the ground in the Holiday Farm fire. However, despite the challenges, Blue River’s story is one of resilience. It’s the story of a town’s desire to not merely survive but thrive. Blue River is building back its internet infrastructure in a way that will make its community stronger, safer, and better connected than ever. Onward Eugene, a 501(c)3 nonprofit with expertise in creating inclusive economic prosperity, believes that communities thrive when all members are valued and engaged in solving the challenges of tomorrow. These values are shared by the McKenzie School District and a cutting-edge private-sector technology company,  Elevate Technology Group, the local organizations behind Project OVERCOME. Their goal is to expand internet connectivity in the McKenzie River Valley and help revitalize the Blue River community.

[US Ignite is accelerating the smart community movement – and creating value for an entire ecosystem – by guiding communities into the connected future, creating a path for private sector growth, and advancing technology research that’s at the heart of smart city development.]