Skip to content
  • Survey of Rural Challenges
  • Small Town Speaker Becky McCray
  • Shop Local video
  • SaveYour.Town
Small Biz Survival
The small town and rural business resource
Small town main street
  • Front Page
  • Latest stories
  • About
  • Guided Tour
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • RSS
Small Biz Survival
  • community | economic development | rural

    What to do with the small town concert hall

    October 7, 2009August 27, 2014

    [Our Friend Cody Heitschmidt has a new project. I offered him a few ideas, but he needs your ideas, too. -Becky] I just leased a 2300 seat concert hall in Hutch for all of 2010. Gonna see if we can liven Hutchinson, Kansas, up a little. Thoughts? No, really, I want your thoughts! I love…

    Read More What to do with the small town concert hallContinue

  • Best of | community | economic development | rural

    Can small towns be cool

    May 13, 2009February 15, 2015

    Dave Ivan of Michigan State University Extension rocked the house at the Michigan Small Town and Rural Development Conference with his “Can Small Towns Be Cool?” presentation. He showered us with ideas and examples gathered from 250 community visits, a literature review and the Michigan “Cool Cities Initiative” survey of young professionals. He grouped his…

    Read More Can small towns be coolContinue

  • community | economic development | marketing | rural

    8 rural culture elements

    May 11, 2009February 10, 2022

    As you work to promote your small town, you’re looking for your special qualities. Marci Penner, executive director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, walks us through the eight rural culture elements. Using this framework, any town of any size can answer the question, “what is there to see or do here?” Read more about the…

    Read More 8 rural culture elementsContinue

  • community | economic development

    Rural competitiveness requires airports

    December 3, 2008August 27, 2014

    Oklahoma State Senator Jay Paul Gumm writes a regular column and chose to talk about rural competitiveness and infrastructure recently. Infrastructure can mean lots of things. Gumm talks specifically about rural airports. These airports are critical gateways to mid-size communities. They are where CEOs land to look for business relocation or expansion sites. The airports…

    Read More Rural competitiveness requires airportsContinue

  • community | rural | trends

    The financial crisis in small towns

    October 12, 2008August 27, 2014

    Most small towns missed out on the recent run up in the USA national economy. And when we were struck with repeated crop failures and a horrendous local economy, the rest of the nation certainly didn’t notice. So, how is the national financial crisis affecting small towns? Well, it’s a mixed bag. And it’s still…

    Read More The financial crisis in small townsContinue

  • Best of | entrepreneurship

    Take action on broadband

    September 9, 2008August 27, 2014

    High Speed Internet is essential for economic growth and global competitiveness. The United States has a lot of ground to cover just to remain competitive with other economies that have already adopted policies that facilitate job growth, business advancement, and individual achievement through access to the latest information technologies. Broadband access is a topic we…

    Read More Take action on broadbandContinue

  • Best of | entrepreneurship | tools

    What works to go wireless anywhere

    July 6, 2008August 27, 2014

    I’m always watching for small business people who share what works for them. Rex Hammock snuck this gem into a story on the iPhone. I already have an AT&T 3G account that allows me to access the Internet using a Sierra Wireless USB modem. While I think it is ridiculous that tethering is not allowed…

    Read More What works to go wireless anywhereContinue

  • Best of | entrepreneurship | rural

    Broadband access is too important for bad copywriting

    April 13, 2008August 27, 2014

    Winner of the most deceptive headline of the week award is Cherry Creek News for this gem: SCHWARTZ BRINGS BROADBAND TO RURAL COLORADO The actual story? A bill passed one step of the legislative process. Several big steps to go. So that is hardly bringing it, right? And what does the bill actually propose? Mapping….

    Read More Broadband access is too important for bad copywritingContinue

Page navigation

Previous PagePrevious 1 2 3 4 Next PageNext

Howdy!

Glad you dropped in to the rural and small town business blog, established in 2006.

We want you to feel at home, so please take our guided tour.

Meet our authors on the About page.

Have something to say? You can give us a holler on the contact form.

If you would like permission to re-use an article you’ve read here, please make a Reprint Request.

Want to search our past articles? Catch up with the latest stories? Browse through the categories? All the good stuff is on the Front Page.

More of the best of Small Biz Survival

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

Posted on December 11, 2024

99% of the best things you can do for your town don’t require anyone’s permission

Posted on January 2, 2024

Get started as an outdoor outfitter without breaking the bank

Posted on August 28, 2023

How to get customers in the door of small town and rural retail stores

Posted on February 19, 2023

Partners

We partner with campaigns and organizations that we think best benefit rural small businesses.

Logo with "Shop Indie Local"
Graphic of US currency with the text Move Your Money, bank local, invest local
Multicolor logo with text that says "Global Entrepreneurship Week"
Save Your Town logotype
Copyright © 2006–2026 Becky McCray • Site by Webdancers
  • Front Page
  • Latest stories
  • About
  • Guided Tour
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • RSS