THE RURBAN FRINGE

Sowing the Seeds for Downtown Revitalization

While I can’t take any credit for the following post (with the exception of some slight editing), the ideas presented by Rick Hauser on downtown revitalization – or any community engagement efforts, really – were too good not to share … I’m sure you’ll agree.
Sowing the Seeds for Downtown Revitalization
Any farmer or gardener will tell [...]

To Grow Small Businesses, Doing What Local Governments Do Best Is Best

Preliminary findings presented by the National League of Cities suggest that local municipal policies that have the greatest impact on small business growth are those that offer regulatory assistance (i.e. ‘one-stop shops’ and streamlined permitting/zoning processes) and those that create a supportive culture between the local public and private sectors.
It’s not rocket science … and it’s [...]

Perfect Pitch Competition a Hit

For youth, breaking into the world of agriculture and farming can be extremely difficult, especially for those working full-time off the farm or raising young families.
But for the past six months, an innovative program has helped four aspiring young entrepreneurs break down the barriers that have blocked them from pursuing their agricultural dreams.
The Perfect Pitch is [...]

Are Rural Grocery Stores Facing Extinction?

Rural grocery stores are hot. 
Late in 2010, two new briefs by the Centre for Rural Affairs highlighted the importance of local grocery stores to rural communities, the challenges faced by rural grocery stores, and how communities can respond to those challenges; you can visit their main grocery store page here.
At the same time (as noted by the Daily [...]

The Future of Small Towns

Leadership, basic viability and programs for development can mean the difference between a stagnant or thriving small town.
Click through to the Daily Yonder blog for a discussion on The Future of Small Towns … it’s well worth the read.

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