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Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource
  • How to fill empty buildings: real world examples Deb Brown shared with Gowrie, Iowa
    community | economic development | rural

    How to fill empty buildings: real world examples Deb Brown shared with Gowrie, Iowa

    ByDeb Brown July 25, 2023July 7, 2023

    I attended the Chamber Dinner in Gowrie, Iowa and talked about small town ideas they could use. It was my pleasure to spend a couple of days there. This article talks about small town ideas for the community and by the community. Got empty buildings? Every small town has empty buildings and empty lots. Gowrie…

    Read More How to fill empty buildings: real world examples Deb Brown shared with Gowrie, IowaContinue

  • Kids playing on a chalked map of their community
    community | economic development | rural | trends

    Rural and small town ideas from the OU Placemaking Conference IQC 2023

    ByBecky McCray April 5, 2023

    Recently I attended the OU (University of Oklahoma) Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) Placemaking Conference This was the 10th annual event. There were 600 people attending from 40 counties in Oklahoma and 6 surrounding states. I attended the 2017 event along with my colleague Deb Brown. The focus was inevitably on big cities, but I…

    Read More Rural and small town ideas from the OU Placemaking Conference IQC 2023Continue

  • Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitors
    Best of | economic development | rural | tourism | trends

    Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitors

    ByBecky McCray January 15, 2023March 25, 2023

    Electric vehicle chargers are a perfect place for tourism wayfinding signs. EV charging stations are popping up in lots of rural places, especially along interstate highways and along the coasts in the US. They’ve become relatively common at some motels as well. Chargers are also popping up globally in rural places. Deb Brown reported seeing…

    Read More Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitorsContinue

  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals
    community | rural | shop local | survivors

    Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals

    ByBecky McCray September 11, 2020September 7, 2020

    2020 has taken a toll on downtown shopping and placemaking. There’s no time to waste on big master plans and no money for expensive consultants. Start taking action now to show life and new activity with small inexpensive steps. Murals add life and color to a downtown and are highly visible even to people driving…

    Read More Cheap placemaking idea: instant muralsContinue

  • How to get more parking downtown without adding any spaces
    Best of | customer service | economic development | entrepreneurship | marketing | rural | shop local

    How to get more parking downtown without adding any spaces

    ByBecky McCray March 7, 2020March 25, 2023

    There’s not enough parking downtown! Doesn’t every city have that problem? You’re about to learn a new way to get more parking for your Main Street without having to pave, stripe or get a permit. It doesn’t work in every town, but it very well might work in yours. Finding hidden parking There is only…

    Read More How to get more parking downtown without adding any spacesContinue

  • Planning lessons every small town can learn from disaster
    community | POV | rural | survivors

    Planning lessons every small town can learn from disaster

    BySmall Biz Survival December 10, 2018January 6, 2019

    Note: This week and next week, I’m pleased to share these guest posts by Whitney Hoffman. She’s sharing some thoughts about being ready for and recovering from disasters. -Becky Guest post by Whitney Hoffman I’ve been a Township Supervisor in Kennett Township PA for over three years now. We’re located in what some people call…

    Read More Planning lessons every small town can learn from disasterContinue

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