The Agurban from Boomtown Institute – The Price of Gas

There’s good news and there’s bad news about the price of gas. First, the good news is, according to the Lundberg Survey of thousands of service stations across the nation, the price of regular unleaded gasoline as of June 6, 2007, was DOWN to $3.11/gallon. The bad news is just that – gas is $3.11/gallon. We Americans love to drive. We just can’t seem to decrease our need (or want) to drive our vehicles.

A recent CNN.com article, "Gas prices drive workers – and bosses – to telecommute", caught my eye. John Thorner leads the staff at the National Recreation and Park Association. He recently required all staff at his office to avoid commuting at least one day a week, either by working four long days and taking the fifth one off, or by working from home on the fifth day. With 70 people in his office driving an average of 30 miles a day, he figures his efforts are saving 100 gallons a week. Not a huge amount, but he is saving his employees 20% on their weekly gas expense. It adds up. Thorner commented, "It’s an economic issue for our employees. It’s also an environmental one for us as an organization. Conservation is part of our mission."

"When gas prices go up, it makes people more conscious of how expensive it is to commute," says Lonnie Golden, a labor economist at Penn State Abington who researches flexible work arrangements. "It’s encouraging to think that something good will come out of rising gas prices."

Telecommuting is a topic we have explored in depth at Boomtown Institute. With today’s technology, and a computer with high-speed internet access, employees can often do their job from home, and save time and money.

Have you thought about this for your office? Would this benefit your employees?

The Blog Log

Visit my weblog to see where I’ve been and what I have learned along the way.

On the road again…

In addition to my travel blog I’ll list my upcoming engagements in each issue of The Agurban. Come see me when I’m in your neighborhood!

Jack’s Schedule

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

Tuesday, June 19 – Chicago, IL-Nat’l Rural Utilities Coop. Finance Corp.

Monday, July 9 – Greensburg, KS – Centera Bank

Jack Schultz is the CEO of Boomtown Institute and Agracel Inc., an industrial development firm majoring in rural America, author of Boomtown USA, and speaker. Boomtown Institute serves as an economic development mentor to communities across the United States, leading communities to realize their full potential.

Visit the Boomtown Institute website at http://www.boomtowninstitute.com

Keep up with Jack as he tours the country on his blog!

To learn more about Agracel visit http://www.agracel.com.

email: [email protected]

phone: 217-342-3000

web: http://www.boomtowninstitute.com