Becky’s email newsletter

In Washington, Iowa, (population 7,000) a huge old department store building sat empty for years while the owners struggled to find any tenant that could fill over 15,000 square feet. A few stores came and went over the decades, but by the Great Recession, it seemed impossible to fill.  Then a group of locals came…

While you’re focused on rebuilding your local economy, look one size smaller than you’re used to.  Here’s why: your future entrepreneurs have fewer resources right now. They need smaller opportunities.  If your economic plan says you want 10-employee sized businesses, support self-employed people wanting to make their first hire. If you want more self-employed people,…

While we focus on rebuilding our local economies, we also need healing in our communities.  Each time we run the Survey of Rural Challenges, people mention racism and racial divides in their communities. In 2019, twice as many people said their communities are becoming more diverse than those that said the opposite. Many said they’re…

When Deb and I started working on helping towns to restart local shopping, we knew the usual “shop local” campaigns weren’t going to work this time. We decided to outline how shop local campaigns used to happen. The old way was for a chamber of commerce or other organization to take the lead. They’d pick A…

We don’t have to know all the answers. We just have to be open to the answers when they present themselves. And we do that by testing new ideas.  It’s not that there’s a lack of new ideas in your community right now. From emails to advice to new programs, everyone is getting plenty of…

All this sudden change reminds me of the Idea Friendly Method, but it’s not quite the same. For example, the instant mass shifts to remote work and learning didn’t happen the old way. There wasn’t time for the usual long process of committee meetings, study commissioning and plan writing. Schools and businesses picked an idea…

Hey, how are you doing? Deb and I are doing pretty good. Our usual work from home routines are serving us well. Lots of canceled or delayed events and visits. It stings, but we’re managing. I’d love to hear how you’re doing, too.  Deb and I talked this morning about what we can do best…

You might have seen the article from the New York Times that was going around with this headline: Helping Towns by Seeding Their Own Backyard With Start-Ups – “EforAll fosters local entrepreneurship by supporting aspiring small-business owners who have ideas but lack capital and connections.” E for All sounds terrific, doesn’t it? Except they don’t really…

In every town, including yours, there are a few buildings that really could use some sprucing up. In one small town I visited last year, there were two in particular we talked about.  One was in process of being remodeled, and then got stuck. I think it’s been stuck for several years now, partially fixed…

People still ask me why small towns matter and whether rural areas have any future at all. The way I see it, we need small towns and hometowns for at least five reasons.  1) Agriculture and food production almost all happens in the rural places, and small towns are essential to the production, transportation and often the processing of our food….

How many times have you been told that your good idea was against the rules? Sometimes it really is against the rules, and sometimes people use “rules” as an excuse to say no.  Sometimes the rules make sense, but they still shouldn’t stop an otherwise good idea. So you come up with a way to…

You’re probably feeling it this time of year especially: maxed out and just plain tired. Personally and professionally. And it can be tough to admit. When I visited one small town, my host and I talked through all kinds of issues and challenges. It took awhile to get around to the really hard question.  We…