Our Focus

Minnesota and Beyond

Our primary goal is to positively impact the well-being of Region 5 in central Minnesota. Whether we succeed or face setbacks, we're committed to sharing our findings with other communities to pilot promising technologies across the country. Through our experiences, we hope to inspire action and empower communities to pursue their own pilot projects and initiatives.

Well-being definition

Our definition for well-being is broad, and that’s on purpose. Pilot opportunities target the needs of rural communities related to mental and physical health, connectivity, and social infrastructure.

Criteria for Pilot Selection:

  1. Technology-enabled innovation

    Human capital and resources are limited in rural communities. Technology must play a central role in how we solve problems.

  2. Measurable impacts to rural well-being

    Data is at the heart of our work, seeking meaningful outcomes that benefit our communities.

  3. Scalable in rural markets

    While we are starting in central Minnesota, a primary objective for AscendRural is to support the scale and reach of solutions across the country.