economic development
But 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…
Read MoreWorking with SaveYour.Town: Resources and support for your small town journey
My co-founder Becky McCray and I are streamlining our work this year, so this feels like a good time to share how you can work with us at SaveYour.Town. Start by exploring what’s possible in your community. Becky and I have been doing this work together for 10 years now. We’ve learned what works and…
Read MoreThe Burney Book Club
The poster said: The Chamber has partnered with Shasta EDC, Intermountain community members, and business owners to initiate positive action in our community. If you are invested in the Intermountain community and want to be part of the solution, please join us. You don’t need a lot of money. You don’t need to be an…
Read MoreConnect people to people for innovation
Connecting people to each other to find more innovation is a great idea to develop sustainable entrepreneurship in our rural communities. Why do we need innovation? Innovation matters for entrepreneurs because it’s the spark that sets their business apart and keeps it moving forward. Innovation helps entrepreneurs spot gaps and unmet needs in their community or…
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