News
Wired for Rural Well-Being: Three Priorities for Rural Connectivity
Access to broadband has been shown to be important for a wide range of well-being indicators, including
economic, educational, and health outcomes. A digital access divide persists between urban and rural areas. The aim of this paper is to introduce broadband connectivity and provide insights into how it can be used to cultivate well-being for people living in rural areas.
De-Risking Rural Innovation: A Smarter Way to Invest in What’s Next
Key insights:
Community validation starts with co-design. We build with rural leaders, not for them.
Credible data offers important proof points. Every pilot delivers actionable insights and validated social + financial ROI, produced with Northwestern University.
Local rural innovation can scale nationally. By partnering with rural peers, public agencies, and national funders, we turn local wins into cross-regional momentum.
Rural Readiness: What innovators need to know before piloting in rural America
Key insights:
Relationships are your most valuable infrastructure
Lead with the “why” and make it personal
Resource constraints are real, but so is loyalty
Design with, not for
Rural is not a niche, it’s a national growth opportunity
AscendRural and the Center for Rural Policy & Development Collaborate on Turning Data Into Action Strategies With Big Impact on Health & Well-being in Rural Communities
AscendRural announced a new collaborative partnership with research and data source the Center for Rural Policy & Development (CRPD).
Featured in Minnesota Cities magazine: Putting Community at the Center of City Innovation
AscendRural's managing director Melissa Kjolsing highlights the promise of pilots to drive city innovation.
AscendRural Welcomes Jose Alba as Director of Community Engagement
Jose brings a distinguished background in rural healthcare leadership and community engagement.
AscendRural Regional Symposium: Rural Innovation in Action
Join us for a day of shared learning to support rural well-being.
Our Values
Our four core values define the heart of our work and the spirit of why we serve rural communities.
Announcing New Managing Director
AscendRural is thrilled to announce the start of our new Managing Director, Melissa Kjolsing