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What is holding us back? Why does every project take so long in small towns?

By Becky McCray

  We all hold different titles, work in different fields or sectors, but we’re all fighting for the future of our towns and rural places. We want to be a place our children and grandchildren and our nieces and nephews can live a good life. Quality of Life, a prosperous future for our towns, these are things […]

December 3, 2018 Filed Under: announcement, Best of, community, rural, trends Tagged With: idea friendly

How any business can be part of downtown events by going mobile

By Becky McCray

  When you hold events downtown, the businesses that aren’t located downtown sometimes feel left out. There’s one bank not in downtown, that figured out a great way to participate in the First Thursday fun in downtown Colfax, Washington. They could have done what other groups are doing and set up a booth on the […]

October 29, 2018 Filed Under: Best of, community, entrepreneurship, marketing, rural

Why do people say there’s nothing to do here then not come to our concerts?

By Becky McCray

Concert-goers talking and enjoying the evening in downtown Webster City, Iowa.

  Let’s look at the tale of two small town concerts. Concert 1: We’ve done all the work, you just need to show up! One happened at an agritourism business. They brought in a couple of professional musicians for performances out at the farm. The musicians were reasonably well known, with some previous exposure on […]

October 15, 2018 Filed Under: Best of, community, entrepreneurship, marketing, mistakes, rural Tagged With: idea friendly

Retailers: Fill all empty space, floor to ceiling

By Becky McCray

  Empty space is an enemy of small town retail stores. Empty shelves and empty space make customers think you don’t have much to sell. They already think you don’t have much because that’s the stereotype of small town stores. You can combat this perception easily: fill all empty space, floor to ceiling.  Secret: You […]

October 1, 2018 Filed Under: Best of, entrepreneurship, marketing, rural Tagged With: retail

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