Research Overview
Rural America has changed drastically in the last 20 years, yet reliable data is scarce, making it harder for community leaders to drive growth and innovation.
Latest Research
Our research and rural economic analysis efforts are rooted in the belief that for small towns and communities to thrive, rural leaders need access to data and information that will influence their efforts and tech economy strategies.
Rural America has undergone seismic changes in the last 20 years, and we are committed to using data to ensure there is available research that reflects this evolution and the opportunities that accompany it.
Higher business growth in rural counties with high broadband use
Counties with high broadband rates saw per capita income grow 18% from 2020-2022.
New Report from the University of Phoenix Career Institute® and the Center on Rural Innovation Reveals Keys to Retaining Rural America’s Future Generation
Research Mapping and Data Tools
Data for rural places is notoriously hard to find and use. Without data visualizations, maps, or even raw data in an accessible form, economic development directors with small staffs often struggle to contextualize their region’s economic assets especially when making critical decisions about investments, strategies and grant opportunities.
A data gap also means that policymakers and philanthropies find it difficult to understand the vast and varied geography that is rural America. If comprehensive data is unavailable, the media relies on anecdotes when discussing rural issues, unintentionally contributing to narratives that do not reflect the full complexity of rural America.
The Experts
We hope not just to make data about rural communities accessible, but also to broaden the conversation and change the narrative about what’s possible in rural America. We are continuously updating our resource center with the latest research, and mapping and data – and building additional maps to serve new clients and tell new stories.
In collaboration with our funders and partners, our team of seasoned economists, researchers, analysts and software engineers works with rural data to create a larger picture and updated view of what is driving change in small towns and communities across the country.
Director of Research, Knowledge, and Evaluation
Amanda Weinstein
Amanda leads the Research, Knowledge, and Evaluation team in providing a better understanding of the economic dynamics of rural America and evaluating our programs guiding communities towards tech-driven prosperity using rigorous analysis and real-world insight.
Researcher
Adam Dewbury
Adam is the qualitative research expert on the CORI research team. From interviews to ethnographic research, his work helps flesh out the quantitative data work with nuances that can’t be captured with numbers.