Rural communities must pair broadband expansion with affordable devices, hands-on training support, and AI literacy—to turn connectivity into jobs, entrepreneurship, and long-term local prosperity.
Blog
Sharing our latest blog posts, news stories, press releases and more.

Take a look back at the moments, connections, and inspiration captured at CORI’s National Conference and Rural Innovation Network Summit in North Adams, MA, September 9th and 10th, 2025.
Losing reliable county-level data leaves rural communities without the insights they need to grow, compete, and plan for the future. Protecting this data is essential to ensuring an equitable, informed path forward.
The Center on Rural Innovation is significantly expanding our reach and offerings, and embarking on a comprehensive, multi-year approach to effectively leverage AI to grow rural economies, businesses, and careers.
Meadville, PA; Rutherford County, NC; Natchitoches, LA; and Danville, VA have joined CORI’s Rural Innovation Network, bringing vibrant community vision, leadership, and economic potential.
Discover how Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is turning brain drain into brain gain by leveraging the Global EIR program to attract international talent and fuel rural innovation.
Brewster County, Texas needed much faster internet service to match its people and talent with economic opportunity in the digital age. Big Bend Telephone, a third-generation family-owned provider, is stepping up to close that gap.
Recently, members of CORI’s Tech Talent Development team, Shaniqua Corley-Moore and Cameryn Mitchell, embarked on a roadshow across Vermont to visit three Rural Innovation Network (RIN) communities: Rutland, Springfield, and Windham County.
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?
Nearly fifty miles to the east of North Carolina’s Research Triangle, a town that has historically lagged the state’s metropolitan centers is working to bring about a brighter economic future.