2022 Summit

The 2022 RuralRISE Summit marked the organization’s return to an in-person convening, with a hybrid format that extended participation to virtual attendees. Held in Emporia, Kansas over three days, the summit drew rural leaders, ecosystem builders, economic developers, and practitioners from across the country.

Programming spanned entrepreneurship ecosystem development, rural economic development, Main Street community revitalization, broadband and connectivity, diversity and equity in ecosystem building, and founder-focused economic development. Pre-conference workshops offered deeper working sessions on USDA rural telecom programs, cooperative broadband models, and advocacy for entrepreneurial ecosystems. The closing keynote, delivered by Dr. Dell Gines of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, examined the future of rural entrepreneurship ecosystems.

Speakers and panelists represented the Kauffman Foundation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Heartland Forward, the Center on Rural Innovation, Main Street America, NetWork Kansas, LISC Rural, Higher Purpose Co., the SBA, and others. Sue Weber returned to close the summit. 

Evening programming included a walking tour of downtown Emporia and a “Taste of Emporia” block party.