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Strategies to Ensure Rural America Thrives in the Age of A.I.

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Speaker:

Matt Dunne, Founder and CEO, Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)

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Matt Dunne

CORI Founder

and Chief Executive Officer

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The Center on Rural Innovation

envisions a new era of prosperity for rural America in the age of innovation.

We create opportunities that empower rural people to thrive in the tech economy.

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Building A National Engine for Rural Entrepreneurship

A holistic approach for rural economic opportunity.

Research, Mapping, & Data Analytics

Tech-based Economic Development

Investment in Rural Startups

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The Rural Innovation Network

43 communities across 26 states and growing
Our Network communities cover a population of nearly 5 million (equivalent to the Boston or San Francisco metro areas)

Home to more than 30 incubators and accelerators that support local tech startup founders and innovators.
700+ learners enrolled in tech training programs

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The Knowledge Economy and the Rural Opportunity Gap

Personal Computer

World �Wide Web

Public�GPS

iPhone

Cloud�Computing

AI

Relative change in employment since 1979 by rurality, alongside technology onsets

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How Did This Happen?

Automation

Decline in

entrepreneurship

Globalization

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CORI Model of Impact

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Innovation Needs Places to Gather

Connecting key assets in one centralized location.

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Why Tech Jobs?

High paying

High growth

A Multiplier

Rural average of $78,843 in 2022.

$

3x

2nd-highest growth projected thru 2031

Create 3 to 5 �additional local jobs

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Why Now: The AI Moment for

Rural America

AI is reshaping every industry and labor market:

Rural entrepreneurs can now build from anywhere.
Rural communities can leapfrog old economic constraints.

But this requires coordinated data, shared infrastructure, and AI-guided decision-making.

This is the moment for rural America to lead.

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The AI Opportunity in Rural America

Low Population Density

Limited Pool of Local �Tech Expertise

Lack of Capital

AI Automates �Processes So Small Teams� Can Accomplish More

AI Democratizes Technology Development and Market Insight Requiring Less Expertise

Smaller and More Efficient Teams Require Less Capital

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Supporting AI Adoption in Rural Communities

Leaders

Founders

Learners

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Rural Innovation Builders Fellowship

12 Week Free Course
Rural Econ Dev Leaders
Startup Accelerators

Leaders:

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Rural Innovation

Builders Fellowship

“I get a chance to ask questions, to gain insights from a network of people that have those exact same goals that we do and that drive to build a thriving tech economy in rural America.”

Clarissa Schauseil, Kricker Innovation Hub

Portsmouth, Ohio

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AI for Rural Futures
Introduction to Modern AI
Codify Prompt to Product

Learners:

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AI Forward Studio

Free, 12-week, hands-on program
Helps rural entrepreneurs build, test, and implement AI-powered startup solutions

Founders:

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AI Forward Studio

Jason Van Nest

Founder, Logic Building Systems

Brattleboro, Vermont

“One thing that's been especially valuable about AI Forward Studio has been the speed to which we can iterate and bring forward our software ideas to a viable alpha stage, ready for investor review, kind of proof of concept piece of software.”

A Vermont-based startup working to redefine how homes are built. Logic’s kitchen, bathroom and utility room modules are engineered from the ground up to meet today’s challenges, driving down the cost of affordable housing and reducing carbon emissions.

0:01: Hey, I'm Jason Van Ness.

0:03: I'm the founder of Logic Building Systems.

0:07: One thing that's been especially valuable about AI Forward Studio has been the speed to which we can iterate and bring forward our software ideas to a viable alpha stage, ready for investor review, kind of proof of concept piece of software.

0:27: behind the scenes, Logic Building Systems is building a catalog-based configurator.

0:33: So that any real estate developer can design a single-family home, much like a, a, a young person would use Legos.

0:43: So they get a kit of parts, of pods, panels, and structures to fit together and design housing with.

0:52: AI Future Studio gave us the tools to not only create that configurator, but also to create the kit of parts to define a new file type.

1:02: And then to define pod and panel products that can be assembled right there on the screen in seconds, in, in the proprietary software.

1:13: the clear idea of sort of not only how to define a, a file type, but also how to stitch it together is something we entered the AI Forward studio, without a clear picture for, and it, it's been invaluable.

1:27: The program allows us to now go to investors with a very clear idea of the marketplace we're building, and it allows them to interact with our clear idea, to interact with our libraries and interact with the representations of products that we hope will address the affordable housing crisis.

1:45: we're very indebted and can't wait to keep going.

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What types of companies does AI enable?

Marquette, Michigan

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What types of companies does AI enable?

Wilson, North Carolina

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Introducing the Rural Insights Hub

Integrating CORI’s research, mapping, and data analytics with our growing network, the HUB offers:

Shared rural economic data
AI insights
Tools for rural leaders, learners, and founders to make smarter decisions, tell stronger stories, and drive innovation.

Coordinated local action

at national scale.

Launching in 2027

A national intelligence platform for rural economies.

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Ask a question about rural America.

Get real-time economic data.

AI-powered Insights from CORI’s National Rural Data Platform

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Collective Impact

Economic mobility, access, and equity are among the defining challenges of our time.

Together we are addressing all three, using the power of a national network plus technology to amplify local wisdom and prove that scale and rural are not contradictions.

Let’s ensure the future of innovation occurs everywhere.

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Let’s Keep In Touch

Newsletter

Website

@ruralinnovation

Facebook

@ruralinno

Visit RuralInnovation.us to learn more about our work, and join our newsletter to stay up to date on rural innovation.

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Thank You!

ruralinnovation.us

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Emerging Leaders Awards (Somerset Ballroom) - 12:00 p.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Emerging Leaders Lunch and Networking - 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Mid-Afternoon Sessions - 1:40 p.m. - 2:55 p.m.
Late-Afternoon Sessions - 3:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closing Reception (Somerset Ballroom) - 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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