y the late 1980s, remote Lincoln County, Montana, had hit hard times. The logging and mining industries were in steep decline; unemployment was on the rise, and even longtime residents were packing up and leaving. But instead of joining the exodus, those who remained pooled their tools and talents to organize a modern-day barn raising -- in cyberspace. Together, they created a website to promote Lincoln County's products, services, and natural surroundings.

"Our home page and email access to each other has changed the way we solve problems, share resources, and treat each other," says Greta Chapman, director of the county's library system and one of the founders of the Lincoln County Technology Group (LCTG).

LCTG is a true grassroots, community-based organization, the brainchild of Greta; Dr. Randale Sechrest, a local orthopedic surgeon; Dr. Anthony Pajas, a retired veterinarian; and others. What started with this small group quickly attracted others. Soon someone donated a computer; volunteers began connecting workstations, and a user group was sharing technical information.

The result is a bundle of innovations for Lincoln County, including its own homegrown, nonprofit Internet access provider and an online newspaper. In addition to creating its website, LCTG also hooked local schools to the Internet. In its first nine months of operation, the group had 300 subscribers -- not bad for a county of 18,700 residents. "The amazing thing about this project is the way people have come together across typically territorial boundaries," says Greta.