We believe in rural America
Everyone everywhere deserves the opportunity to participate in and benefit from our growing tech economy. Through our on-the-ground work with rural community leaders across the country, we are working to ensure that it’s possible.
As strategists, advocates, connectors, and champions, we collaborate with members of our Rural Innovation Network to launch initiatives and programs that support innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and tech job creation in the places they call home.
Whether someone living in rural America wants to gain new skills and enter the tech workforce, or wants to take their successful careers home to the communities where they grew up, we are committed to creating local, place-based ecosystems that provide pathways and opportunities that lead to a more equitable and inclusive national economy.
And we are proud to highlight the ways different rural community leaders approach this work: The challenges they’ve faced, the progress they’ve made, and the stories of lives that have been changed because of their tech economic development efforts.
Downtown Cape Girardeau, Missouri, a Rural Innovation Network community
Tech-based economic development
We work with communities to identify local assets, opportunities, gaps, and challenges that factor into building tech economy strategies that support their future efforts.
A community of practice
We launched the Rural Innovation Network as a community of rural leaders working to advance tech economy development in small towns across the country.
Research, data, and storytelling
We use research, data and storytelling to shift the national narrative about who lives in rural America and what is possible in rural America.
Rural startup investment
We make direct investments in early-stage rural technology startups through our seed fund, the CORI Innovation Fund (CIF).
Tech workforce development
We help our Rural Innovation Network members develop their local tech workforce through inclusive training programs that identify and support workers of all experiences.
Broadband advocacy
We advocate for rural places to get connected to the last mile, knowing fiber internet is the lifeblood of the tech economy, online learning, telehealth, and innovation.
Stories from across rural America
Diverse in geography, economic origin, and demographics, our Rural Innovation Network communities represent the full spectrum of rural America. Here are some of their stories:
By the numbers
$36M +
We've helped communities raise more than $36 million in federal funding and matching dollars through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s highly competitive Build to Scale Venture Challenge Grant program.
12%
While 12% of America’s workforce lives in rural America, only 5% of tech jobs are in rural areas. By 2030, we want rural America to have 12% of the nation’s tech economy jobs, distributed to match the gender and race demographics of each region.
Use the next/previous buttons to view a series of network testimonials.
Network testimonials
The people I have met through CORI and the Rural Innovation Network have been an invaluable resource providing insights, best practices, and resources as we work to build a tech economy in Traverse City. It’s a very knowledgeable group of ecosystem builders who are always friendly and helpful.
Keri Amlotte, 20Fathoms
Traverse City, Michigan
Network testimonials
Community development in rural areas is hard. We’re grateful for our relationship with CORI. Full of energetic, smart, and genuine people, I can count on them to publish high-quality content and provide recommendations based on what has worked in similar communities across the country.
Colby Hall, Shaping Our Appalachian Region
Eastern Kentucky
Network testimonials
Developing vibrant digital economies in rural areas is more important now than ever, and rural communities can only be truly successful by working in collaboration with each other. The Rural Innovation Network is a great asset as we continue to learn from other communities around the nation.
Dia Ghosh, Ada Jobs Foundation
Ada, Oklahoma
Support rural innovation
You can help us empower the local change agents and entrepreneurs driving innovation in the small towns and communities they call home.
Research and resources
From reports and case studies to interactive maps, data visualization tools, and webinars, we develop resources that help rural leaders advance their tech-based economic development efforts. We support policymakers, investors, nonprofits, academics, and journalists looking to better understand and share what’s happening in small towns and communities across the country.
