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Practical ideas for small town business and community builders

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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • shop local | Small Biz 100

    Enjoying Local Foods and Local Farmers

    ByGlenn Muske July 12, 2017July 9, 2017

    “I enjoy local foods.” I say and I hear that statement more and more. And as we are right in the middle of another season, this seems like a good time to think about the good tastes among other reasons for supporting local food. We know that agriculture is a big part of our economy….

    Read More Enjoying Local Foods and Local FarmersContinue

  • rural | Small Biz 100

    Who Are the Small-business Owners?

    ByGlenn Muske May 3, 2017April 29, 2017

    We are right in the middle of SMALL BUSINESS WEEK! Two of the owners of such endeavors are: I’m a small-business owner. Becky McCray is a small-business owner (here at Small Biz Survival, Allen’s Retail, and a cattle ranch). In the last week, I have needed several small-business owners. For example, I: Got coffee several…

    Read More Who Are the Small-business Owners?Continue

  • rural | Small Biz 100

    Celebrate Small Business Week

    ByGlenn Muske April 26, 2017April 20, 2017

    Get out the noise makers. Put on your party hats. Order a cake. It’s time to celebrate the backbone of our economy, the small business. Small Business Week 2017, April 30 through May 6, is a celebration of small businesses across the country. Small businesses mean jobs, dollars and economic growth. Across the U.S., more…

    Read More Celebrate Small Business WeekContinue

  • shop local | Small Biz 100

    Get Ready to Shop Small

    ByGlenn Muske November 23, 2016November 18, 2016

    What event will we celebrate on Nov. 26? Pat yourself on the back if you said “Small Business Saturday.” No, there isn’t any cake (well, there could be) and no one is getting any presents (at least not on that day, although we hope lots of them are purchased from your local businesses that day)….

    Read More Get Ready to Shop SmallContinue

  • rural | shop local | Small Biz 100

    Small Businesses Carry Big Role in Communities

    ByGlenn Muske June 29, 2016June 24, 2016

    Small businesses are the cornerstone of most local economies. This statement is often said and it is worth remembering. Small, locally-owned businesses put about 68 cents of every dollar spent right back into the local system. On average, a chain store keeps about 43 cents in the local economy. And of course money spent outside…

    Read More Small Businesses Carry Big Role in CommunitiesContinue

  • community | Small Biz 100

    Small Businesses, Communities Share a Relationship

    ByGlenn Muske January 14, 2016December 30, 2015

    Small businesses form the cornerstone of local economies. In larger cities they are important, but in rural areas, they are crucial, not only economically but for the variety of products and services they provide. To begin with, the economic impact of the small business is sizable. Research shows that for every $100 spent, $68 dollars…

    Read More Small Businesses, Communities Share a RelationshipContinue

  • community | rural | Small Biz 100

    Communities Need All Types of Businesses

    ByGlenn Muske November 12, 2015November 9, 2015

    Small communities often are looking for ways to enhance and expand their local economies. A commonly used tool in this effort is encouraging the building and expansion of local businesses. Communities want jobs and dollars, and they usually want them relatively quickly. Often development plans look towards high-fliers and/or large firms. Yet, the local business…

    Read More Communities Need All Types of BusinessesContinue

  • Tionesta Market Village Shops and shoppers. Photo by Julia McCray. Forest County IDA/IDC
    economic development | entrepreneurship | rural

    Rural economic development idea: tiny business villages

    ByBecky McCray April 20, 2015November 25, 2024

      When you bring together the idea of pop up (temporary) businesses with the tiny house movement, you get tiny business villages. They make great sense for small towns and rural places. Garden Sheds Turned Incubator: Tionesta Market Village Tionesta, Pennsylvania, (population 500) had a lot that was vacant for 10 years after a fire…

    Read More Rural economic development idea: tiny business villagesContinue

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