Built For Place: What rural incubators reveal about community, innovation, and opportunity
Written by: Sally Jordan
Across rural America, innovation is thriving in coworking spaces and community hubs where entrepreneurs are turning local ideas into lasting impact. From Independence, Oregon, to Wilson, North Carolina, rural incubators are helping founders launch startups, test bold ideas, and build businesses rooted in the strengths of their communities.
These spaces aren’t just supporting entrepreneurship — they’re redefining it. They’re proving that when people have access to the right networks, mentorship, and resources, rural places can be powerful engines of creativity and growth.
Innovation is happening in rural America
Rural communities don’t need to be convinced to innovate. They need the infrastructure to support what’s already happening.
For years, the narrative surrounding rural entrepreneurship has centered on what’s missing — capital, infrastructure, or talent — but the data tells a different story.
In Built For Place, we share findings from nearly a decade of working alongside rural leaders and incubator programs across the country. The report examines how rural incubators deliver real results — helping founders turn ideas into companies, grow local economies, and strengthen community connections.
Inside, you’ll find data and insights that reveal:
- What makes rural incubation unique — and why these models are built for local success.
- How community and trust drive entrepreneurship in smaller places.
- The critical funding gaps that hold back growth — and what can be done to close them.
- Stories of rural founders proving that innovation can thrive anywhere.
Rural incubators aren’t smaller versions of urban models — they’re something new. Built to serve broader community needs, they’re creating ecosystems where main street businesses, social enterprises, and tech startups all grow side by side.
This report is both a data snapshot and a call to action — showing funders, policymakers, and local leaders what’s possible when we invest in the entrepreneurial potential of rural America.
If you care about the future of rural innovation — and want to understand what it takes to build vibrant, resilient local economies — this report is for you.
📥 Download Built For Place to explore how rural incubators are fueling the next generation of community-driven entrepreneurship.