AscendRural Announces Five Finalists for Volunteer First Responder Innovation Challenge
Staples, Minnesota – AscendRural, in collaboration with the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), is proud to announce the five finalists selected for the Volunteer First Responder Innovation Challenge, a national initiative to boost recruitment and retention of volunteer first responders in rural communities.
A panel of experts including rural public safety leaders, EMS coordinators, innovation specialists, and community development professionals reviewed a diverse pool of applications and identified five standout teams. Each finalist will receive:
The opportunity to pitch live to rural community leaders at AscendRural’s August 25th reverse pitch event preceding Ascend Rural’s symposium
Admittance into AscendRural’s accelerator
Mentorship from AscendRural’s distinguished advisors
Tailored rural market insights to refine strategies and reach
A potential pilot contract worth up to $150,000 to test solutions in real-world rural settings
These solutions address a range of critical challenges faced by rural volunteer first responder systems, including improving access to training, reducing volunteer burnout, streamlining public safety dispatch, and enhancing both mental and physical wellness support. In addition, several proposals offer novel strategies aimed at strengthening recruitment and retention efforts—an urgent need in rural communities that rely heavily on volunteer-based emergency response systems.
Finalists will present their MVPs during AscendRural’s Regional Symposium on August 25–26, 2025, at Chase on the Lake, where community leaders and convening partners will explore the solutions and their potential impact.
For more information about the finalists or the symposium, please visit AscendRural Regional Symposium — AscendRural.