Rural Innovation, Big Impact: Matt Dunne on Tech, Policy, and Opportunity

In this episode of The SIMBA Podcast, Brooks Sherman and Heida Helgadottir sit down with Matt Dunne, founder and executive director of the Center on Rural Innovation. With a career spanning Vermont politics, Google, and national public service, Matt shares how his diverse experiences shaped his mission to close the rural opportunity gap. From launching broadband initiatives to pioneering Google's community affairs program, Matt offers a compelling look at how rural communities can thrive in the digital age. He discusses the power of public policy, the importance of local leadership, and how AI and remote work are reshaping the future of rural economies.Recorded March 2025