Building a prosperous rural America
CORI helps rural communities create thriving tech economies that produce good jobs and scalable companies.
A decade of delivering impact for rural Americans
- Operating across a national network of partner communities, which together represent over 4.5+ million rural Americans
- $250+ million secured for rural communities to develop innovation-based economies
- 400+ startups launched in our partner communities
- $90+ million raised by rural startups in our portfolio
- Thousands of rural residents trained for the future of work
Our Model
Research grounds our work, tech-economic development builds on community assets to create ecosystems where entrepreneurship can take root, and start up investment fuels the entrepreneurs—together creating the conditions for rural communities and their residents to thrive.
Impact by the numbers
4.5M+
The 54 communities in our Rural Innovation Network are home to a population of over 4.5 million people across 26 states. From Independence, Oregon, to Waterville, Maine, our Network members are proving there is no limit to where tech jobs and scalable entrepreneurship can take place.
$350M+
We’ve helped unlock over $350M in funding and capital investment to drive innovation in rural America. From developing startup accelerators to investing directly in rural founders, this funding and capital supports durable, localized, and community-led economic development.
Use the next/previous buttons to view a series of network testimonials.
Real Community Impact
The overwhelming majority of our workforce actually live in rural small towns. We found a way to create an above-average opportunity for good people and enabled them to stay in the communities that they and their families love.
Dusty Birge, Founder & CEO of Fast Forward
Support rural innovation
Help us empower rural leaders and entrepreneurs to build more prosperous communities.
Empowering rural communities and rural founders to lead the way
Frequently Asked Questions
It means homegrown wealth creation.
It means people can work, live, and build companies in the communities they love. It means rural GDP, incomes, and entrepreneurial dynamism per capita are on par with their metro/urban equivalents.
Visit our “Explore the communities” webpage to view an up to date list of CORI’s partner communities across the country.
Our rigorous research and data collection support the argument that traditional methods of economic development (ex “smokestack chasing”) simply haven’t worked. Enabling rural Americans to fully participate in the tech sector, the largest driver of economic growth, is a proven model for building productive, prosperous, and resilient local economies. See our report on the subject for more info.
Yes, CORI is a 501(c)(3), EIN 82-4508477.
You can view CORI’s 990 (link 2025 990) for more information on our financials and legal compliance. We’re proud of our four star rating (the highest) on Charity Navigator which you can view here.
We accept cash donations by credit card, check, wire, and ACH transfer. Click here to donate.
We accept gifts of stock, crypto, real estate, and other assets on a case-by-case basis – please reach out to development@ruralinnovation.us
Click here to donate by card or bank transfer.
Mail checks to PO Box 392, Hartland, VT 05048.
To donate via a DAF, log in to your DAF account and recommend a grant to Center on Rural Innovation EIN: 82-4508477. Scroll up to access your DAF account directly on CORI’s website.
For gifts of stock, crypto, real estate, and other assets, or to include CORI in your legacy and planned giving, please contact development@ruralinnovation.us for more information on how to make these gifts.
Please reach out to development@ruralinnovation.us for more information on making a major gift.
Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on CORI’s work, and share it with your network!
We need help changing the narrative on rural America, so help us spread the word about all the exciting innovation happening in rural communities.