Rural
Renaissance
Roadshow
November 10-12, 2025 | Opelika, Alabama
Join local leaders and energy innovators transforming rural communities.
Rural Renaissance
Roadshow 2025
Groundswell’s annual Rural Renaissance Roadshow brings together rural leaders from across the U.S. to share knowledge, forge partnerships, and bring resources back to hard-working communities. The Roadshow equips attendees to build strong, locally led futures through inspiration, education, and hands-on sessions, including opportunities to learn more about funding and technical support. This year, we’re heading to Opelika, Alabama, where attendees will spend two and a half days connecting and seeing the work in action.
Book Your Stay at Our Special Roadshow Rate
Book your room now to get our discounted rate with the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National. This unique hotel has something for the whole family. Events on Nov. 12th will begin at The Marriott. Book now to secure your spot!
Attendees
Program Tracks
Sessions
Keynotes
2025 PROGRAM TRACKS
Rural Energy Systems
Rural Food Systems
Rural Water Systems
Rural Housing and Health
2025 SPEAKERS
Andrew Freear
Wiatt Professor and Director of Rural Studio, Auburn University
Adaora Ifebigh
Senior Director, Community Impact, Sol Systems, LLC
Autumn Long
Director, Appalachian Solar Finance Fund, Appalachian Voices
Bryan Cordell
Executive Director, The Sustainability Institute
Hannah Shultz
Program Director, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light
Hope Florence Cupit
CEO of Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (SERCAP)
Jaceey Sebastian
Councilman, City of South Fulton, Georgia, District 4
Kristen Powers
Executive Director, Benevolence Farms
Countdown to the Roadshow!
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Program Schedule
LOCATIONS
Venue Spaces and Hotel Block
The Bottling Plant Event Center
The Bottling Plant is an event center converted from a former Coca-Cola Bottling Factory. Owned by a local, this event center showcases Opelika’s history and charm, all while providing us with a unique space to gather in Downtown Opelika this November 11th.
All meals are included with your registration, and breakfast and lunch will be made on site at the bottling factory, which specializes in Southern cooking! Grab a plate and enjoy the Alabama sunshine on the patio while networking with leaders championing energy efficiency, sustainable farming practices, accessibility to clean water, preserving rural housing, and beyond!
After spending the day at The Bottling Plant Event Center, hearing from our keynotes and engaging in conversations with session leaders, attendees will have the opportunity to head into downtown Opelika for our signature “Taste of Opelika” dinner event! Attendees will receive vouchers to a variety of esteemed local restaurants to sample the local cuisine. Stay tuned for restaurant details.
Book Your Stay at Our Special Rate!
Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National
Book your room at the official hotel for the 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow now to get our discounted rate! Join us on November 12 in the Grand National Ballroom as we gather before setting off on our field trips!
Bring the whole family to the Roadshow and make it a getaway!
Enjoy all the amenities this unique hotel has to offer. Hit the golf course, play a match on the tennis courts, unwind with spa services, explore scenic biking and walking trails, or simply relax by the pool.
Please note: Golf course access and spa services must be booked separately.
Opelika, Alabama
Opelika’s story is one of transformation. Once a historic railroad town, it’s now a thriving hub of industry, innovation, and Southern hospitality. Global companies are investing in Opelika’s future—drawn by strong infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a bold commitment to sustainable growth. It’s no surprise that Opelika was recently ranked as one of the Top 25 Most Dynamic Metropolitan Areas in the U.S.
While you’re here for the Roadshow, we hope you’ll explore all that the Auburn-Opelika area has to offer. From hiking to Chewacla State Park’s waterfall to grabbing the best local coffee in town, there’s a trail, taste, or treasure waiting for you. Visit the Auburn-Opelika Tourism website to plan your downtime and make the most of your stay.
With its walkable historic downtown, warm community spirit, and a proven track record of reinvention, Opelika is the perfect place to discover what’s next for rural America. We’re so excited to welcome you!
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rural Renaissance Roadshow?
Groundswell’s annual Rural Renaissance Roadshow brings together rural leaders from across the U.S. to share knowledge, forge partnerships, and bring resources back to hard-working communities. The Roadshow equips attendees to build strong, local, clean energy futures through inspiration, education, and hands-on sessions, including opportunities to learn more about funding and technical support. This year, we’re heading to Opelika, Alabama, where attendees will spend two and a half days connecting and seeing the work in action.
How do I get to Opelika?
If you are flying in, the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama, are nearly equal distances from Auburn/Opelika, Alabama. We recommend either renting a car from the airport or booking a shuttle through Groome Transportation, which is an affordable alternative to renting a car! Groome will pick you up at the airport and drop you off in Auburn/Opelika.
Does Groome Transportation go to Auburn/Opelika?
Groome Transportation is an affordable alternative to renting a car! Groome picks up and drops off in Auburn and Opelika. You can book with Groome for a ride from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, or the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama. Unfortunately, Groome does not drop off directly at our partner hotel, The Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National, so you will need to utilize a rideshare app to get to the hotel. We will provide buses to and from the Marriott for off-site activities. Book your shuttle here!
Become a Sponsor
Groundswell’s core values include respect, integrity, excellence, taking care of each other, driving transformative change, and serving people and communities with joy. We believe that service is a privilege, not a chore, and our team works with and for people in the communities we serve to create resilient systems and transformative change.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join the Conversation
Webinar: Community-Driven Resilience Planning
Rescheduled: October 8, 11AM EST
Join Groundswell and ERI for a webinar showcasing strategies to ensure local communities are in the driver’s seat when designing resilience for their community. Groundswell and Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute’s (ERI) joint webinar will discuss upcoming projects that ERI has in the works in partnership with rural communities in Indiana, how Groundswell has partnered with ERI to train the 2025 McKinney Climate Fellows—who are staffing ERI’s Community Resilience Hub Incubator and Indiana Resilience Funding Hub this summer—to build relationships with rural communities and guide potential resilience hub partners in the pre-development stages through research initiatives and community engagement, and Groundswell’s approach to human-first community resilience
Register to attend the webinar on Wednesday, October 8, at 11:00 AM ET for a dynamic conversation featuring Bill Brown (Assistant Director for Strategy and Engagement at ERI) and Anupama Chandroth, PhD Student (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at IU and 2025 McKinney Climate Fellow), Groundswell’s Director of Community Engagement, Tiffani Lawson, and Vice President of Technical Services, David Wright. Together, they will talk about lessons learned from the Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience (RACER) project, and how we’ve applied these lessons to our community-driven resilience framework.
Join us as we explore how Groundswell and ERI are working alongside local communities to build resilience on their terms.
WEBINARS
LATEST NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS
You’re Invited!
This fall, rural leaders from across the country will gather in Opelika, Alabama, for an unforgettable experience of connection, collaboration, and community power. The 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow, hosted by Groundswell, is more than a conference – it’s a catalyst for action. Join more than 200 local leaders working to design resilient futures rooted in local leadership and lasting impact.
What do a Farmer, an Investment Banker, and a Former Diplomat Have in Common?
Quite a lot, as it turns out, including a resolute commitment to rebuild Rural America, which they’ll explore together as the lunchtime keynote panel at this year’s Roadshow.
Register Now: Webinar on Community-Driven Resilience Planning
Groundswell is excited to share big news for rural communities in Indiana. As a technical partner with Solar Opportunities Indiana (SOI), Indiana University’s (IU) Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) is supporting rural towns in Indiana to develop solar and battery storage projects eligible for $16 million in funding from a grant stewarded by SOI.
Director of Auburn University’s Rural Studio, Andrew Freear, to deliver keynote at Rural Renaissance Roadshow
The 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow is coming to Opelika, Alabama, November 10-12, bringing together more than 200 local leaders from across the nation focused on rural resilience in energy, food, water, and healthy housing systems. Andrew Freear, Director of Auburn University’s acclaimed Rural Studio, will kick off the conference with an opening keynote address on resilience by design – the theme of this year’s Roadshow.
Register Now: Celebrating 100 Homes Repaired with SOUL: Efficiency for Affordability
Groundswell is celebrating our 100th home repair through the Save On Utilities Long-term (SOUL) program, and the first in Alabama. Join us for a special webinar highlighting how the SOUL program is cutting electricity bills by 30% or more for families in the rural South while preserving housing and strengthening communities.
The Roadshow is Heading to Opelika, AL
Surrounded by the beauty of the forest and Lake Saugahatchee, the Marriott Resort and Spa at Grand National has something for the whole family! Come early or stay late to hit a few balls at the Grand National Golf Course or on the Marriott’s tennis and pickleball courts. Whether you’d rather relax by the pool or enjoy the walking trails, there’s something for everyone at the Marriott Resort & Spa at Grand National.
Register Now for the Rural Renaissance Webinar: Celebrating 100 Home Upgrades
Get a taste of the topics we’ll be covering at the 2025 Rural Renaissance Roadshow through our webinars leading up to the event! Next month, on June 25 at noon ET, we’re celebrating the life-changing impacts of energy efficiency upgrades in rural homes and celebrating the 100th home upgrade through Groundswell’s Save on Utilities Long Term program!
Together, We Build Energy Resilience Across the Rural South
On Wednesday, April 30, at noon ET, Groundswell kicks off its 2025 Rural Renaissance Webinar Series with a timely conversation you won’t want to miss: Resilience by Design.
Why Opelika? A Legacy of Industry, Innovation, and Charm
Opelika’s story is one of transformation. Once a vital railroad town known for early manufacturing, it’s grown into a hub for advanced industry and innovation. Today, global companies like Pharmavite, Hanwha Advanced Materials, Daewon America, and Golden State Foods are investing in Opelika’s future—supported by strong infrastructure, a skilled and forward-thinking workforce, and a deep commitment to sustainable growth.