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Survey of Rural Challenges 2015 – 2025 results

By Becky McCray

10 Years of Rural Insights. What small town people see as their biggest challenges and what topics they most want help with. Survey of Rural Challenges, report written by Becky McCray and Deb Brown. Challenges, assets, actions

Download the PDF report Executive Summary The Survey of Rural Challenges asks rural people to share their ground-level insight into the challenges they face and the assets they can use. This report analyzes over 2200 responses from communities across the US and Canada from 2015 to 2024. The responses show what’s changing and what isn’t […]

February 3, 2025 Filed Under: announcement, community, economic development, entrepreneurship, resources, rural, success, Survey of Rural Challenges, trends, workforce, youth Tagged With: community development, economic development, Rural surveys and polls, rural trends, Survey of Rural Challenges

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

By Becky McCray

A few people shopping in an attractive retail store in refurbished downtown building.

Remember the Retail Apocalypse around 2017? In a media interview this week, I brought up that it was actually Retail’s Big Split, not an apocalypse, and it’s ongoing. The reporter asked me to explain, so here’s my update for today’s retail landscape.   “Everything gigantic in American life is about to get smaller or die.” […]

December 11, 2024 Filed Under: Best of, entrepreneurship, marketing, rural, shop local, Survey of Rural Challenges, trends Tagged With: experience economy, retail

2024 Survey of Rural Challenges Is Open!

By Deb Brown

Survey of Rural Challenges

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 […]

March 14, 2024 Filed Under: announcement, rural, Survey of Rural Challenges Tagged With: guest post, news, Survey of Rural Challenges

Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bank

By Becky McCray

Three kids in a canoe

Our latest Survey of Rural Challenges said natural resources are rural communities’ best rural assets, but most places don’t have enough outfitters to take advantage of them as tourism development. Here’s how rural people like you can take small steps to grow into outdoor outfitters.  Gather Your Crowd to attract groups and organizations that want to help […]

August 28, 2023 Filed Under: Best of, economic development, entrepreneurship, ideas, rural, Survey of Rural Challenges, tourism Tagged With: economic development, Idea Friendly Method, natural resources, small business, Survey of Rural Challenges, tourism

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