Author: Deb Brown

community | economic development | entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | shop local | social media | tools
Let’s Talk Newspapers: Working Together Locally
ByDeb Brown April 17, 2026April 29, 2026
Hometown newspapers are small businesses, just like the hardware store, the cafe, or the auto repair shop. They’re not just “media.” They’re employers, sponsors, storytellers, and neighbors, and their work ripples through every corner of the community. This year, collaboration is a focus of ours at SaveYour.Town, and I want to talk about how newspapers…
Read More Let’s Talk Newspapers: Working Together Locally
announcement | rural | Survey of Rural Challenges
2024 Survey of Rural Challenges Is Open!
ByDeb Brown March 14, 2024
These 10 questions will provide information to many organizations and people on what is challenging for rural communities. Are you rural? This survey is for you. SmallBizSurvival.com and SaveYour.Town are conducting the 10th-anniversary edition of the Survey of Rural Challenges! Take the Survey of Rural Challenges. Spread the word Could you help us spread the word on…
Read More 2024 Survey of Rural Challenges Is Open!
entrepreneurship | global | rural
GEW: Rural Entrepreneurship in small villages in Portugal – panel video
ByDeb Brown November 19, 2023
Part of our Global Entrepreneurship Week celebration Nov 13-19, 2023. Speaking about small businesses, entrepreneurship and sharing rural stories Story and photos by Deb Brown I was invited to speak in Portugal by my friend and business associate Frederico Lucas. My first night in Lisbon I spoke at this event hosted at the coworking space NOW…
Read More GEW: Rural Entrepreneurship in small villages in Portugal – panel video
economic development | entrepreneurship | rural | success
Pop Up in An Empty Lot
ByDeb Brown November 15, 2023November 9, 2023
Part of our Global Entrepreneurship Week celebration Nov 13-19, 2023. Starting a business the old way is hard On an Idea Friendly visit to Jackson County, Kentucky, I visited with a group of artists/entrepreneurs. This group had created a loose organization called the Jackson County KY Creative Community. They wanted to start businesses, but were…
Read More Pop Up in An Empty Lot
community | economic development | ideas | rural | youth
Solve Rural Community Challenges the Idea Friendly Way – stories from IEDC
ByDeb Brown November 9, 2023
Guest post by Deb Brown What attendees learned from attending the Idea Friendly Session by SaveYour.Town at the International Economic Development Council Conference — Big Ideas you can copy in your town Becky McCray and I were excited to lead an interactive Idea Friendly workshop at the International Economic Development Council Conference in Dallas in…
Read More Solve Rural Community Challenges the Idea Friendly Way – stories from IEDC
community | rural | survivors
Jackson County and Grayson KY Stories and Volunteers
ByDeb Brown August 8, 2023July 6, 2023
Guest post by Deb Brown Change can be activated in a society by way of story.” from the book Spirit Run I just returned from Jackson County, Kentucky and the small town of Grayson, Kentucky. There’s a natural beauty in those mountains and winding roads. The people were kind, helpful and want to see their…
Read More Jackson County and Grayson KY Stories and Volunteers
community | economic development | rural
How to fill empty buildings: real world examples Deb Brown shared with Gowrie, Iowa
ByDeb Brown July 25, 2023July 7, 2023
I attended the Chamber Dinner in Gowrie, Iowa and talked about small town ideas they could use. It was my pleasure to spend a couple of days there. This article talks about small town ideas for the community and by the community. Got empty buildings? Every small town has empty buildings and empty lots. Gowrie…
Read More How to fill empty buildings: real world examples Deb Brown shared with Gowrie, Iowa
community | entrepreneurship | rural | tourism
Folklife in the South Conference – The Stories Matter
ByDeb Brown July 10, 2023July 7, 2023
I attended the Folklife in the South Conference in Lake Guntersville, Alabama in June 2023. It was a gathering of community leaders, folklorists, traditional artists, educators, documentarians, and other cultural workers. We came together to hear the stories of work in the field, explore different avenues of folklife in the South and to meet and…
Read More Folklife in the South Conference – The Stories Matter

Small Biz Survival

2024 Survey of Rural Challenges Is Open!

GEW: Rural Entrepreneurship in small villages in Portugal – panel video

Pop Up in An Empty Lot

Solve Rural Community Challenges the Idea Friendly Way – stories from IEDC

Jackson County and Grayson KY Stories and Volunteers

How to fill empty buildings: real world examples Deb Brown shared with Gowrie, Iowa

Folklife in the South Conference – The Stories Matter

Howdy!

The Best of Small Biz Survival

TREND 2025: Retail’s Big Split: what small town retailers can do now

99% of the best things you can do for your town don’t require anyone’s permission

Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bank

How to get customers in the door of small town and rural retail stores

Partners