Small Business
Why I Shop at Wal-Mart
A reader of this blog sent me an email. She wanted to explain why she went to Wal-Mart. Now, she’s a local small business supporter. The lesson is: just because you are a small business, you don’t always deserve the business. Customer Service is VITAL. Here’s her story: The house I recently moved into…
Read MoreSpa Kit – this looks like fun!
On occasion I get asked to try out products. Usually I just pass them up. But this one looks like fun …. Essio Shower Aromatherapy Kit. I’m waiting to hear back to see if I can also give away a kit to one of my readers! What do you think about it? Click here for…
Read MoreBuilding a Better Block
I’ve visited with proponents of Building a Better Block over the past several years. They are onto something. The Better Block project started in April, 2010, when a group of community organizers, neighbors, and property owners gathered together to revitalize a single commercial block in an underused neighborhood corridor. The area was filled with vacant…
Read MoreQuantifying Community Revitalization
I’ve been thinking and studying about what revitalization is and what it can mean to small towns. Is new businesses downtown enough? No. Is a new smokestack going to help? Maybe, but not enough. What about tourism and bringing people in to town? Yes, but again – not enough. Storm Cunningham* shared a white…
Read MoreBuilding Possibility in Milbank, SD
I don’t just drive somewhere to speak at a meeting, and then leave. I’m a small town enthusiast so I like to visit. I like to drive around and see what I can see. I stop in shops and talk to people. I visit the Chamber/tourism people. I get a feel for a town. I…
Read More1 Million Cups in Brookings Review
Imagine inviting local business people to have coffee every Wednesday at nine am and there is one or two speakers that spend six minutes presenting a premise, talking about and then a conversation between the speakers an audience occurs for 20 minutes. You’ve just imagined what 1 Million Cups is like. The Children’s Museum in…
Read MoreGrasshopper Guest House
July 11 I traveled to LeClaire, Iowa and spent the weekend. LeClaire is located on the Mississippi River in central Iowa. I chose to visit because the town is doing some things right, and I wanted to find out what was working for them. I love to find unique places to stay when I go…
Read MoreHeaded to LeClaire, Iowa
Why am I headed to LeClaire, Iowa? 1. I’m a chamber director. It’s always good to take a look at other communities that are ‘doing it right’. It’s even better to spend a couple of days there, talk to some shop owners, get a good feel for the community. In this day of rural…
Read MoreGuard Duty
Wednesday the ESGR folks invited local businesses to come to Camp Dodge and see what our National Guard soldiers do every day. They are the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve people and their budget comes from the Department of Defense. It’s money well spent. We have a need for employees in Iowa and they…
Read MoreEating Healthfully in Social Situations
Sheree Clark is in my Ag Urban Initiative program and now a friend. You’d not think we’d become friends – she’s a vegan, and I’m not. She’s healthier than I’ve ever been! However, there is always common ground and we’ve found. I’ve spent some time in conversation about eating better, addressing challenges and finding food that you…
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