economic development
What to do with a Community Action Committee
I love getting emails from small town folks who have seen or heard us speak, especially when they form committee action committees as a result! Rebecca wanted some next step help, and I was happy to share! Here’s her email: I was so inspired by your story and how you were able to change your…
Read MoreJackson County, Kentucky Creatives
“Great to see a vibrant downtown on a Saturday night in Jackson County. Monthly cruise in with circle on the square music, and the Jackson County Creative Community signing folks up for the new web page. Paintings were donated for a free drawing. Thanks to Corner Cafe for staying open for the event. Always the…
Read MoreSunflower Festival is Idea Friendly
Beth didn’t like sunflowers. Until she moved to central South Dakota. They were everywhere! And her husband, the farmer, grew them. Beth attended the Energize Conference in 2018 and heard the Red Ants Pants Presentation. Sarah Calhoun has her store (they make workwear for women) in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, and that is a very…
Read MoreBut what about the cost?
The big idea at Franklin Street Relics in Natchez, MS, was to get more customers. The owner has 84 vendors, and they all discussed it among themselves. And they got stuck on how much it would cost. They’d have to do more advertising! And expand their ad region, which means more money. No one knew how to…
Read MoreWhat has rural expert Deb Brown been doing for the last ten years?
I got asked the other day what I have been doing for the last ten years. I took some time and wrote it all down. It surprised even me! Take a look, and if you’d like to have a free call with me, just book 30 minutes here. Here’s a comprehensive list (I may have…
Read MoreLet’s Talk Newspapers, Rural Small Town Ones
Hometown newspapers are small businesses, just like the hardware store, the café, and the auto repair shop. Erin in El Reno pointed out that I mentioned newspapers four times in my book, which tells you how important I think they are. They are not just “media.” They are employers, sponsors, storytellers, and neighbors. Press Releases…
Read More99 Things You Don’t Need Permission To Do
What is a local neighborhood revolution and why do you want one?
The Local Revolution: How You Can Save Your Small Town Natchez is kicking off a Neighborhood Revolution, and you’re invited to be part of it—and to imagine bringing this same energy back home to your town On Saturday, February 21, I’ll be in Natchez, Mississippi, for a full day of hands-on, street-level community building hosted…
Read MoreOld Station, CA Small Town with resources
Let’s talk about a small town You might drive right by most small towns and think ‘there’s nothing for me here.’ Old Station, California has a population of 31, or 64. Depending on which source or year you check. No matter how you count it, that’s a small town. It’s in the mountains, about 14…
Read MoreDoing more with less – no thank you
I’ve never liked the phrase “doing more with less.” It gets tossed around so often that it sounds noble, but it usually feels like a scolding. It implies people aren’t working hard enough or wringing every drop out of their already-limited time, energy, and budgets. It piles guilt on top of fatigue. That phrase comes…
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