The funding relationship between CORI and SFE was renewed in 2019 to advance a pilot program developed in partnership with the Economic Development Administration. This work expanded CORI’s footprint to more than a dozen rural communities across the country, built on the strategies that were developed during the Springfield, VT pilot program, and provided the proof-of-concept needed to advance a playbook for engaging in different contexts throughout rural America. That second stage funding allowed CORI to create and support the Rural Innovation Network, a growing consortium of small towns engaged in building digital economy ecosystems. This new funding will allow for expansion of the network and provide more services to this growing community of practice including partnerships with national technology skilling providers, pro bono legal services for startups, and technical assistance to ensure network communities are engaging traditionally underrepresented minorities and women as they build their digital economy ecosystems.