Our story
Origin story
AscendRural was created to boost well-being by bridging the innovation gap in rural America.
We do this by connecting technology companies with rural communities to pilot, validate, and scale solutions.
Our connection to Sourcewell
AscendRural was launched in 2024 by Sourcewell, a self-funded local unit of government created by the State of Minnesota to provide services and solutions to central Minnesota cities, counties, townships, school districts, and nonprofits.
As Sourcewell looked toward the future, one question kept rising to the surface: Where could we make the greatest impact – locally and nationally – leveraging our unique strengths?
That question led to a year-long exploration to understand challenges and scope new solutions. From that discovery, AscendRural was born.
Anchored in Minnesota’s Region 5, our five-country rural home base in central Minnesota, AscendRural was designed to pilot and scale technology-driven solutions with rural communities, not for them. Through Sourcewell’s unique position as both a local connector and a national solution provider, we’re helping bring innovation to places too often overlooked.
Our why
Too often, technology is built for urban markets, leaving rural communities with tools that don’t fit their realities. From limited infrastructure to dispersed populations, rural America faces barriers to adoption that also represent opportunities for innovation.
AscendRural is here to shift that dynamic—proving that rural markets aren’t just viable, they’re vital. Our work helps elevate rural America as a key player in the innovation ecosystem.
Geographic Focus: rural America, with a special focus on central Minnesota
As a program of Sourcewell, AscendRural was created to fulfill a core commitment: improving the well-being of communities in central Minnesota’s Region 5. That remains a priority and a foundation for our work.
Yet the challenges facing rural communities, whether in healthcare, connectivity, infrastructure, or education, aren’t unique to one region.
That’s why we invite rural communities across the United States to apply for our national community cohorts, where local leaders can pilot new technologies designed to address real-world challenges.
Central Minnesota will always be our guiding star, shaping our approach and informing impact themes, as we grow a national network of rural changemakers, co-creating scalable technology solutions that reflect the diversity, strength, and ingenuity of rural America.
