Amidst the busy life of running a rural business, it’s often hard to find opportunities to network and connect with useful resources. Throughout the country, organizations are trying to help by putting on events that bring rural business professionals together through regional conferences. The Northwest Arkansas Rural Business Development Conference is a perfect … [Read more...]
Episode 48: Building Thriving Rural Communities
Since 1987, the NC Rural Center in North Carolina has worked to improve the quality of life for the state’s rural people and places. It operates with the core belief that rural communities have inherent cultural value and are vital to the overall economic health of the state. Patrick Woodie is a lifelong rural North Carolina resident and President & CEO of the NC Rural … [Read more...]
Episode 47: A Small Town’s Fight to Save Its Historic General Store
Trevor Bruan of the Elmore Community Trust shares a remarkable story of how the small town of Elmore, Vermont, which has about 850 residents and no stoplight, rallied to save its only General Store and preserve the town's identity. The Elmore Community Trust also found innovative ways to fund the project and has a hopeful vision for the future. Find out more about the … [Read more...]
Episode 46: Impact of The Farm Bill
Kalee Olson is a policy associate for the Center for Rural Affairs and joins Ben Rowley in this episode of the Rural Business Show to discuss some of the Center’s top priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill and how it will impact rural communities. The Farm Bill comes up in Congress every five years for renewal and is a comprehensive package of laws that provides funding for … [Read more...]
Episode 45: Rural Strategies for Utilizing Federal Funding
The American Rescue Plan set aside $7.5 Billion in relief funds for rural healthcare providers. Even as the money was made available, however, many towns across the U.S. were rejecting this and other Federal Relief Funds, "because they couldn’t think of a way to spend it." Others knew how they wanted to spend it, but had to give it back because they didn't have the resources … [Read more...]