unemployed, may have come off of a farm and a short time later they're writing software for fortune 500 companies. >> reporter: such as alex ross who was working as a fast food fry cook. >> i never really completely understood what a programmer was before that time. it's challenged me to do things that i didn't know i could do. >> reporter: so far they've brought 06 jobs to macon and at president clinton's cgi america, they'll commit to creating 1,000 jobs in rural missouri over the next five years. how much promise is there in this idea of in-sourcing, bringing jobs to rural americans? >> a lot. you save so much on labor and there's no real problem with distance. if you can put them in rural america, the idea of putting 1,000 jobs in joplin, which goodness knows needs it because of the tornado is a wonderful, wonderful idea. >> reporter: big dreams in small communities that need them. >> there is a great amount of hope, resilience here. we want to tap into that. >> reporter: jake tapper, abc news, chicago.