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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • 7 best strengths of small town stores
    entrepreneurship | rural

    7 Strengths of Small Town Businesses #3: Fewer Layers

    ByBecky McCray July 7, 2014August 8, 2014

    7 Biggest Strengths of Local Shops And how you can build on them. Remember the 7 Weaknesses of Local Shops? They were crazy popular because they touched a nerve. I acknowledged that some of our local businesses really need to step up to earn business today. This series is the flip side of that idea. Small…

    Read More 7 Strengths of Small Town Businesses #3: Fewer LayersContinue

  • Why rural is key to developing Unmanned Aerial Systems
    economic development | rural

    Why rural is key to developing Unmanned Aerial Systems

    ByBecky McCray July 2, 2014July 1, 2014

    Did you know that military won’t be the biggest use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)? In fact, agriculture will account for 80% of UAV use in coming years, Jim Mason of Elk City, Oklahoma, tells us. He also explains why rural Western Oklahoma is a leader in the industry. In…

    Read More Why rural is key to developing Unmanned Aerial SystemsContinue

  • Deb Brown in Webster City, Iowa.
    economic development | rural

    Does touring empty buildings lead to new businesses?

    ByBecky McCray July 1, 2014October 26, 2015

    When my friend Deb Brown started as Chamber of Commerce director for Webster City, Iowa, they had too many empty buildings. Rather than try to hide that fact, Deb put on a tour of empty buildings. The idea was to clean up buildings and show them off to potential new business owners. Read about how…

    Read More Does touring empty buildings lead to new businesses?Continue

  • 7 best strengths of small town stores
    entrepreneurship | rural

    7 Strengths of Small Town Businesses #2. Make Customers Feel Loved

    ByBecky McCray June 30, 2014August 8, 2014

    7 Biggest Strengths of Local Shops And how you can build on them. Remember the 7 Weaknesses of Local Shops? They were crazy popular because they touched a nerve. I acknowledged that some of our local businesses really need to step up to earn business today. This series is the flip side of that idea. Small…

    Read More 7 Strengths of Small Town Businesses #2. Make Customers Feel LovedContinue

  • Small Towns Have a Future – 10 trends in our favor
    economic development | podcast | rural | trends

    Small Towns Have a Future – 10 trends in our favor

    ByBecky McCray June 25, 2014June 24, 2014

    If you believe what you read or hear from the media, then all small towns are dying. But that’s not the real story. The real story is much too nuanced for a sound bite or 3 minute story: some small towns are dying, most are surviving, and some are prospering. And any town can choose…

    Read More Small Towns Have a Future – 10 trends in our favorContinue

  • 7 best strengths of small town stores
    entrepreneurship | rural

    7 Strengths of Small Town Businesses #1 Get to know you

    ByBecky McCray June 23, 2014August 8, 2014

    7 Biggest Strengths of Local Shops And how you can build on them. Remember the 7 Weaknesses of Local Shops? They were crazy popular because they touched a nerve. I acknowledged that some of our local businesses really need to step up to earn business today. This series is the flip side of that idea….

    Read More 7 Strengths of Small Town Businesses #1 Get to know youContinue

  • Chris Gibbons explains economic gardening
    economic development | rural

    Chris Gibbons explains economic gardening

    ByBecky McCray June 17, 2014June 15, 2014

    Chris Gibbons is well-known for pioneering the concept of “Economic Gardening” in the small-town of Littleton, Colorado. (Population about 40,000, and part of the greater Denver metropolitan area.) On a recent webinar presented by the Kansas City Branch of the Federal Reserve, Gibbons explained the basics of economic gardening. Differences between economic gardening and other…

    Read More Chris Gibbons explains economic gardeningContinue

  • Turn a simple coupon book into an engagement tool
    community | marketing | shop local

    Turn a simple coupon book into an engagement tool

    ByBecky McCray June 10, 2014June 8, 2014

    Your assignment: include an element of how your organization changes the world for the better in every bit of communication that you create. That’s a tough assignment. It means you have to: Know how your organization is changing the world for the better. Know how to express it even in a few words. Remember it every time…

    Read More Turn a simple coupon book into an engagement toolContinue

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