It takes a comprehensive approach – don’t work alone! From Lancaster Farming. A new, place-based approach to rural policy is needed, according to “Strengthening Rural Pennsylvania: An Integrated Approach to a Prosperous Commonwealth,” by the Brookings Institution in collaboration with Penn State, the Pennsylvania Economy League, and the Campaign to Renew Pennsylvania. “We have never…
Lots of small town small businesses are food related. Think farms, wineries, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, local restaurants, and all those homemade salsas, pickles, and barbecue sauces. Together, these businesses can promote themselves as an entire region of delicious experiences. Our Friend Jack Schultz found a local food guide and an artisan bread festival. You…
Small business people in rural areas and small towns often feel overlooked. Here’s a roundup of some recent rural-urban conflict news stories. What’s the right way to divide transportation dollars between rural and urban? Should you go by road miles or by people? Rural areas have more road miles, but urban areas have more people….
Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari is encouraging his country’s political leaders to start using New Media and technology, in Namibia: Youtube, E-Mail, Skype And MPs. Hengari points out that it is easy for leaders to talk about the importance of technology, even if they have no knowledge of it. If leaders actually use wikis, blogs, and even…
Our Friend Chuck Huckaby wants to share some ideas on where to find local sources of merchandise to resell. This is a solid model for a small town business: take a local resource into a larger market. Find your local sources: landfills, garage sales, auctions, local manufacturers, local retailers, local farmers. Look for their overstocks,…
Reader Evelyn Mitchell sent this story to me. I’ve been following the blog The Thrifty Knitter. She’s participating in this: I thought it was an interesting story for you for a couple of reasons. First, that the Harveyville Project is re-purposing buildings in a small town for conference space and artistic residences. Secondly, that the…
AOL is showing an AP story today, Alaska Town is Giving Away Free Land. Here’s the interesting twist: the program was developed by the local high school students. They convinced the city council to go along with it. Other free land programs exist. I’m familiar with Kansas Free Land, an impressive regional effort. Actions: Ask…
How to market your rural area: focus on rural strengths For the first time that I can remember, the state’s push for people to consider bringing their business and/or their family to Iowa is not apologizing — it is celebrating all that makes it such a terrific place to live. Found at Drew’s Marketing Minute….
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