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How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here

By Becky McCray

Survey Crew Ahead. Photo by RustyClark on Flickr

Seems like there have been a lot of coronavirus-related surveys this year. This survey is different: we’ve been asking for and listening to your rural challenges since 2015. Of course rural challenges are different this year with COVID-19. That doesn’t mean all your other challenges disappeared, but it might mean your priorities have changed. We’d like your […]

October 20, 2020 Filed Under: announcement, community, entrepreneurship, rural Tagged With: ABCD, assets, coronavirus, covid-19, COVID19, survey, Survey of Rural Challenges

The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis

By Becky McCray

Holyoke Hummus Company cart

Small towns have endured boom and bust cycles, commodity crashes, mill and factory closures, environmental disasters and losing their economic reason for existing. Rural communities have reinvented themselves before, and rural businesses are re-inventing the way they do things.  How Holyoke Hummus stays Idea Friendly through a crisis John is the owner of Holyoke Hummus […]

October 6, 2020 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, management, rural, survivors Tagged With: business crisis, business success, change, coronavirus, COVID, covid-19, COVID19, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, Holyoke Hummus Company, idea friendly, Idea Friendly Method, Innovative Rural Business Models, SaveYourTown, small business, small business success, success, take small steps

Why “Small Town” Might Become the Sexiest Brand In the World

By Chris Brogan

Small Town Buildings

Guest Post by Chris Brogan The COVID-19 quarantine has crushed so many small businesses and the economy at large. It’s truly been the worst financial crisis unfurling in this country since the 1930s. And while some measures are in place to help this not reach that level of despair, many people are finding themselves out […]

August 7, 2020 Filed Under: economic development, entrepreneurship, rural, shop local, trends Tagged With: Chris Brogan, coronavirus, COVID, covid-19, COVID19, entrepreneurship, guest post, recession, recovery, recruiting, remote work, rural, rural sourcing, zoom towns

Masks are the new “no smoking” for small businesses

By Chris Brogan

Small Town Main Street Business

Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash Guest post by Chris Brogan The whole quarantine and COVID-19 situation has impacted small businesses even more than the big guys because it’s not like anyone has massive reserves of cash around so that you could deal with shutting down for months at a time. And now, as different […]

July 13, 2020 Filed Under: customer service, entrepreneurship, rural Tagged With: Chris Brogan, coronavirus, COVID, covid-19, COVID19, masks

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