Survey underway in Nebraska looking at needs of rural business
A survey is being conducted in Nebraska to assess the needs of rural businesses and entrepreneurs. It is headed up by the Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) and is done every other year to identify the most pressing needs of rural business owners in the state. REAP focuses on small, self-employed business development and offers financing (micro loans), business training, technical assistance, and networking.
Small Arizona town grappling with pending mine closure
With copper and molybdenum prices at their lowest point in years, an Arizona mining company is slowing down its operations, including shutting down the Sierrita mine. The mine provides 21 percent of the jobs for the nearby town of Sahuarita. Town officials have worked on a strategy to diversify the town’s economy, but immediate job and other concerns remain for the area
Wal-Mart departure creates retail vacuum in small towns
The retail giant Wal-Mart closed 154 stores across the U.S. over the past year. Its entry into small-town markets drastically changes the local economies, and its departure is no different. In Arkansas, local officials are scrambling to fill voids left behind.