Register now for CORI's 2025 Conference, Accelerating What's Possible: The Next Chapter for Rural Economies in the Age of AI

AI is changing the economic landscape at an unprecedented pace, and with it comes both opportunities and challenges for rural communities. In this next era, how can rural America harness transformative technology to lead and thrive? At the Center on Rural Innovation’s 2025 Conference, we’ll explore how communities can incorporate AI to help close the gap in rural economic growth.

At CORI, we believe in the potential for rural communities to grow, innovate, and develop community-owned solutions. We’re excited to present Accelerating What’s Possible: The Next Chapter for Rural Economies in the Age of AI on September 10 in North Adams, MA. Register now to secure your spot for this collaborative event with fellow visionary leaders, local changemakers, entrepreneurs, and funders who are shaping the future of rural innovation.

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Drive the Future of Rural Innovation   

During this special one-day event, you’ll hear and take part in dynamic discussions that explore how rural tech ecosystems can turn their potential into sustainable growth, and have the tools, skills, and agency to prosper in a fast-evolving economic landscape.

We’re excited to convene experts from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise who bring on-the-ground experience to explore what’s next for rural economies, and to tackle the most pressing questions facing our communities. Here’s a sneak peek of our insightful panel sessions:

  • The Critical Role of AI Skilling in Today’s Economy: AI literacy is no longer optional. This session will reveal how AI skills open new economic opportunities, launch tech careers, and build startups.
  • Unleashing Rural Innovation: Collaborators, Champions, and Catalysts: What fuels rural innovation? This panel will explore how cross-sector partnerships with leaders from education, business, and economic development can spark sustainable growth. Discover actionable strategies and CORI’s model for developing rural economies in this era of advanced technology.      
  • Fueling Tech Entrepreneurship in Rural America: Navigating the Rural Funding Landscape: Funding rural tech ventures has unique challenges. This session will tackle overlooked funding gaps and how AI is reshaping investment. Hear from rural startup founders and investors about their journeys, challenges, and success strategies for both entrepreneurs and supporters.

A few of the expert voices you’ll hear from include: 

Register now to take part in groundbreaking conversations, network with other rural professionals, and take home practical strategies to apply in your communities.

Unlocking Rural Potential with AI

“From a rural economic development perspective, AI presents unprecedented opportunities,” says Matt Dunne, CORI founder and executive director. “We believe AI can give local learners access to world-class tools, help rural founders scale faster, and enable small teams to compete. We are already seeing rural entrepreneurs in our network, like Catie McVey, using AI to bring new ideas to market inexpensively and quickly, accelerating the development roadmap to a minimal viable product by months.

Through our national network, we have a powerful platform to connect rural America to the relationships and conversations needed to navigate this rapidly changing landscape. This conference is designed to do just that—for members of our network and others invested in building resilient rural communities.”

Conference Details

Date: September 10, 2025

Time: 10am-5pm (networking reception to follow)

Location: MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA

Cost: $50 Early bird registration, price increases to $100 beginning August 1.

About North Adams and MASS MoCA:

Accelerating What’s Possible will take place in North Adams, MA, a city of nearly 13,000 situated in the Berkshire Mountains, approximately an hour from Albany, NY and three hours from Boston. MASS MoCA is one of the largest centers of contemporary art. By transforming a former factory into a vibrant hub for art, culture, and community, MASS MoCA has catalyzed local investment and demonstrated the creative economy’s capacity for fueling rural revitalization and economic growth.  

About 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Innovation Center

The Berkshires, a Rural Innovation Network member, since 2020, has been at the forefront of tech-driven economic growth in the region. 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Innovation Center have supported more than 1,500 entrepreneurs, helped secure $10M+ in grant funding, and led bold initiatives like the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 to spur innovation across 32 rural communities.

Thank you to our sponsors who are making this important conversation possible: Compeer Financial, Google, IEDC, Massachusetts Business Roundtable, MassDevelopment, and 1Berkshire. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

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