What can you do to help create young entrepreneurs?
We complain that our young people don’t want to stay here, or come back here. In fact, in our survey of rural challenges this complaint is always in the top 5. Let’s take a look at how we’ve created this monster and what we can do about it. Why is it they don’t want to…
There’s a little bit of artist in all of us
There’s more to art than visual arts. Do you quilt or crochet? Those skills are artistic. Do you know how to use a forge? Have you made products in the forge? Again, this is art. Have you helped your kids and grandkids paint things on the driveway with chalk? That’s practicing art and teaching the next generations that…
Using art to build community
I sit on a volunteer board for Legacy Learning Boone River Valley in Webster City, Iowa. I was surprised at the number of local instructors in my community that are artists and teach workshops. Some examples of the local art these folks teach include: the Scandinavian thread work craft of Hardanger, Pine Needle Baskets, one of…
It’s always been about you, my rural friends
2022 found me on the road a lot, visiting rural small towns, sharing stories and giving presentations. I’ve added a recap to my speaking site here. I love my work, and it’s because I get to work with people just like you. You are: The dreamers who want to build their community, the folks who…
Results from the Survey of Rural Challenges
Every other year we send out a survey of Rural Challenges. We expected Covid 19 to lead in challenges this year, however we were surprised! Long-term local rural challenges outweighed the impact of COVID-19. We found that rural community stories are not what the media is telling everyone. Common themes in media coverage and policy…
Housing: Do you need a developer for second story housing?
Not every second story housing project is possible by a bank loaning someone the money to build or rehab. Webster City, Iowa has several buildings downtown with second story spaces. Three of those second stories are now housing. It wasn’t a developer that came in and bought the buildings and fixed them up. That’s a…
Does your town stay open late?
What if you told the story that your town is one that stays open late? You’d probably be telling the truth, even though many of your downtown stores close at 5. Make a list of all the businesses that stay open late. Restaurants Convenience Store Gas Station Salons Gyms Pharmacies Big Boxes (ones still open…
Who are your newcomers?
I was in Mt. Ayr, Iowa and had the opportunity to meet with a group of people who had moved back to this small town of 2,500. They brought with them technology, a large network of professional friends and their families. It’s not a beach town, there’s no mountains and people don’t go there to…
Empty Lots
Have you ever been to a small town without empty lots? Me neither. They don’t have to stay empty either! This is one of my favorite ideas – Create an outdoor museum! Jerry Johnson, from JLJ Design Studio in Richardson, Texas, came up with an idea of a rusted tractor graveyard, but you could make almost any kind…
Graphics for Shopping Local
These graphics were provided by Rural Kind – and we are happy to share them!