Presentation on Rural Innovation in the US under Pillar 1.B. at the 12th OECD Rural Development Conference on Delivering Well-being, 24-26 September 2019, Seoul Korea. Presentation by Mr. Nathan Ole, The Rural Community Assistance Partnership, United States. More information: https://www.oecd.org/rural/rural-development-conference/

1. Rural Innovation in the United
States
September 24, 2019

2.  Setting the table…
 What does entrepreneurship look like in rural
communities?
 Can innovation thrive in rural communities?
 How can entrepreneurship help drive economic
prosperity in rural communities?
 Connecting communities through
entrepreneurship.
Rural Entrepreneurship

3. Entrepreneurial Community
Characteristics
From: University of
Nebraska - Lincoln

4.  Approximately 1 in 6 self-employed workers
lived in rural areas in 2016.
 According to U.S. Small Business Administration
analysis of the Census Bureau’s Current
Population Survey, rural residents were self-
employed at a slightly higher rate than national
average in 2016 (6.5%, compared to 6%).
 Farmers represent less than one-sixth of
business owners in non-metro areas
Rural Entrepreneurship Statistics

6. The more rural the county, the higher
its level of entrepreneurship

7. Entrepreneurial Communities
Initiative
 Goal is to help rural
communities develop
the ecosystem to
support entrepreneurs
 Build entrepreneurial
culture
 Build support systems
and networks
 Make connections
among existing
resources & fill gaps
Image from Kauffman
Foundation

8. RuralRISE

9. QUESTIONS???
NATHAN OHLE, CEO
NOHLE@RCAP.ORG