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Artificial Intelligence is changing everything — from how we learn and work to how we hire, train, and build resilient economies. The Artificial Intelligence Track explored how rural regions like Eastern Kentucky could not only adapt but also lead in this era of rapid technological change. These sessions brought urgency, insight, and action to the table, challenging us to design a future that included everyone.
Ideal Audience
- Employers and HR professionals
- Educators, community colleges, and workforce boards
- Policymakers, civic leaders, and state agencies
- Philanthropy and public-private partnership strategists
- Technology and innovation professionals
- Anyone curious about AI’s impact on jobs, equity, and opportunity
Wednesday, August 27
Reskilling and Revitalizing: AI’s Role in Rural Economic Transformation
1:45 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Corbin Center
AI is transforming the workforce faster than most institutions can respond — and rural America has a critical role to play in shaping what comes next. This conversation brought together national leaders at the intersection of workforce innovation, economic mobility, and responsible tech. Attendees explored how AI was disrupting traditional pathways, creating new “middle-skill” opportunities, and reimagining what education, training, and equity must look like in the decades to come.
This wasn’t just about adapting to change — it was about designing it.
Meet the Speakers
Will Warren
Economic Development Corps Fellow | SOAR
(Moderator)
Steve Lee
CEO | SkillUp Coalition
Matt Dunne
Founder | The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)
2025 SOAR Summit Sponsors
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