Join as a Founding Economic Strategies Research Partner
Help shape AI for rural—rather than watching rural be reshaped by AI.
Early-bird deadline:
Representative Community Types Already Engaged
Strategic partnerships across diverse rural economic ecosystems
Partnership announcements coming soon
Founding Economic Strategies Research Partners
Your role in developing AI for rural America
Data-driven, Community-led
Your community becomes a research partner, not a test subject. Your economic challenges and successes shape the AI tools built for rural America's future.
Designed Frameworks Custom Fit
We will utilize pattern-matching to help develop economic models that are specific to small towns and rural communities. No more one-size-fits-all approaches to rural development.
AI-Solutions Built With You
From policy decisions to product development, you can shape AI for rural—rather than watching rural be reshaped by AI. Solutions built with you in mind, not as an afterthought.
Why the September 16 Deadline
The Anthropic Economic Futures Symposium will spotlight AI's role in economic development. This is our opportunity to prove rural communities want representation:
- Demonstrate collective rural voice in AI development
- Show rural leaders are ready for AI-powered solutions
- Ensure rural perspectives shape AI policy discussions
We need to ensure rural's voice is heard.
A Personal Note from Chris Carnell
“I grew up in Sikeston, Missouri. I've built programs for over a decade and raised tens of millions to serve rural. I learned this: small towns are not just smaller versions of metros.
But federal systems have one-size-fits-all approaches that unintentionally cause irrereparable harm.
We have a unique window of opportunity to make significant positive change.
Together, we can ensure AI serves rural America instead of replacing it.”
“Chris Carnell has been one of the most thoughtful and driven leaders I have seen emerge from a rural innovation ecosystem. His work blends vision, rigor, and purpose.”Matt Dunne
Founder, Center on Rural Innovation
“Chris is an authentic leader, innovator, and ecosystem builder, whose focus on delivering value directly and incisively to founders is matched only by his passion for seeing that value flourish in rural communities.”Nathan Willingham
Partner/Principal Planner, Slaughter & Willingham
“Chris Carnell is a rare builder—someone who intimately understands the rhythm of rural ecosystems and knows how to forge them toward bold, future-facing outcomes. As someone deeply immersed in growing these ecosystems myself, I see in this project a thoughtful step toward aligning emerging technologies with the lived realities of rural communities—rooted in people, place, and purpose.”Mose Cassaro
Founder & GP, RDF Ventures; Program Partner, gener8tor; Director & Co-Founder, StartUp Rutland
Built With Rural Communities, Not For Them
Your development challenges become our research priorities.
Your successes become our blueprints for other rural communities.
Rural voice deadline September 16, 2025 - aligned with Anthropic's Economic Futures Symposium.