Discussion featuring rural development experts explored challenges as well as solutions through community, educational and career partners

The University of Phoenix Career Institute® and Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) announces the availability of the free recording now available on-demand for their co-hosted in-depth webinar, “Bridging Barriers to Career Opportunity and Economic Growth for the Future of Rural America.” The discussion provided key insights from the G.R.O.W. Generating Rural Opportunities in the Workforce™ report, a comprehensive study produced by the university and the center about rural workforce challenges and the innovative paths forward to support economic and career development in rural communities.

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“We believe that small towns are home to big ideas,” states Amanda Weinstein, Ph.D., Director of Research, Knowledge, and Evaluation at CORI. “Really what we need is new models of economic development that can empower rural communities to thrive in the nation’s growing tech economy.”

Raghu Krishnaiah, chief operating officer of University of Phoenix, moderated the panel discussion featuring Weinstein, Matt Dunne, Founder & Executive Director of CORI, Bill Menner, founder, Bill Menner Group and Immediate Past Chair, Partners for Rural America, which reviewed the impact of limited access to high-speed internet, the professional network gap, and the rising interest in rural entrepreneurship, and how defining rural communities impacts complexity of grants and resource opportunities.

“The definition of rural is really the breakdown between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas,” shared Dunne. “This allows us to look at places that might be structurally isolated but have a thriving downtown and population of 20,000 so really they are their own economic center of gravity.”

The discussion explored specific actions that organizations, institutions, and employers can take to bridge gaps and enhance the prospects of rural workers across America.

“The availability of funds and grants to rural communities is often complicated because there might not be any one individual or agency in that community equipped to navigate the process for applying for those resources,” shared Menner. “Partnerships between organizations can help collaborate on identifying and pursuing those funding opportunities as well as leadership training that creates more individuals in the community thinking strategically about overcoming technological and workforce challenges.”

Those accessing the recording can expect to learn more about actionable collaborative strategies that can support sustainable rural economic development and ensure rural workers have access to the resources they need to thrive.

“The rural workforce contributes to industries critical for our country including agriculture, mining, forestry, manufacturing and technology. This workforce has a distinctly entrepreneurial energy that they want to leverage for the benefit of their local communities,” states Krishnaiah. “There is opportunity for institutions and organizations across sectors and industries to create partnerships that ensure real solutions for connecting individual workers with career advancement pathways. These partnerships can help improve access to the technology infrastructure and importantly, foster that entrepreneurship and the opportunities to build technical skills.”

The original live event was held December 3, 2024. Access the complete recording here.

University of Phoenix webinar recordings are available here.

Learn more here about the G.R.O.W. report.

ABOUT THE G.R.O.W. GENERATING RURAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WORKFORCE™ REPORT

The G.R.O.W. Generating Rural Opportunities in the Workforce report is a comprehensive study on the barriers Americans living in rural communities face in their day-to-day lives, and the impact these barriers have on career development and advancement opportunities. The study was conducted by the University of Phoenix Career Institute®, part of the University’s College of Doctoral Studies, in partnership with the Center on Rural Innovation— a nonprofit seeking to advance economic prosperity in rural communities — in order to unpack the consequences of the slower adoption of technological infrastructure in rural communities and the subsequent workforce barriers that keep workers in rural America from benefiting from the latest workforce trends.

The G.R.O.W.™ report comprised a 15-minute online survey of workers in rural America (n=1,000) and workers in nonrural America (n=986). All participants were U.S. adults (age 18 and up) who were employed or seeking employment at the time of research. Researchers conducted fieldwork between May and June 2024. Rural residency was determined using the Rural-Urban Continuum Codes that are publicly available from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). A full methodology can be found at www.phoenix.edu/career-institute.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX CAREER INSTITUTE®

University of Phoenix Career Institute® was created to address broad, persistent, and systemic barriers to career advancement through research-based solutions and impactful partnerships that break down barriers Americans face in their careers.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

ABOUT CENTER ON RURAL INNOVATION

The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) is a national nonprofit committed to advancing economic prosperity in rural America through the creation of inclusive tech economy ecosystems that support scalable entrepreneurship and tech job creation. Established in 2017, CORI is at the heart of a dynamic social enterprise focused on closing the rural opportunity gap. The organization partners with a taxable nonprofit, Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. (RISI), and a seed fund, the CORI Innovation Fund, focused on early-stage technology companies located in rural areas. For more information, visit www.ruralinnovation.us.

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