Tech-based economic development
We believe that strong tech economies will allow rural communities to chart their own courses toward prosperity.
Creating new opportunities to build local wealth
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to digital economic development across rural America, which is why we help rural community leaders devise tech economy strategies that support innovation, tech entrepreneurship, workforce development, and tech job creation in the places they call home.
Through our Rural Innovation Initiative, our team works with cohorts of rural communities to create place-based tech economy strategies, an economic development model that aims to educate and train local residents in tech skills, employ them in tech jobs, and empower them to launch the startups that will drive their local economy.
Since launching in 2019, in collaboration with our collaborating partner, the Center on Rural Innovation, the Rural Innovation Initiative has raised more than $29.9 million in federal funding and matching dollars through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s highly competitive Build to Scale Venture Challenge Grant program.
How we work with communities
Community assessments
We work with rural communities to discover and analyze their local assets and gaps, identify key partners, understand local employment needs, and build out strategies that will best serve their community’s long-term vision and goals. At the end of the assessment, we deliver comprehensive reports based on:
- Quantitative and qualitative research
- Stakeholder interviews
- Asset and gaps analysis
Tech-based economic development strategies
Our in-house team of community managers and economic data specialists collaborate with rural leaders as they develop and refine tech economy strategies that are unique to their local community’s needs. Building upon the findings from the assessment phase, we provide technical assistance, tools, templates, guidance, and best practices for designing inclusive tech economy strategies. This work can include:
- Partner engagement planning
- Workshop facilitation
- Identification of funding opportunities and grant-writing support
- Customized tools and templates
Use the next/previous buttons to view a series of network testimonials.
Testimonials
After months of working closely with the RISI team to do a deep dive on our region’s strengths, assets, resources, weaknesses and gaps, we successfully identified key funding sources and launched an initiative to increase long-term population growth, economic growth, new startups, and tech-related career opportunities.
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Testimonials
The RISI team's support in this process has been invaluable, a team truly dedicated to our community's success. It’s like putting a puzzle together, at the end all the pieces have a home, and you walk away feeling good about the work accomplished.
Taos, New Mexico