You probably haven’t thought of this local business benefit

I’ve been thinking lately how many large challenges we face as a society that come down to not thinking from other people’s perspectives. Our communities could use more empathy. Doing business with each other can help us build empathy.  Selling something requires us to think about other people. We have to think about what other people…

Boost your makers with MFG Day in October

Your town has some crafters, makers, artisans or small manufacturers. The perfect time to celebrate them is during October for MFG Day, aka Manufacturing Day: Creators Wanted! Officially MFG Day is October 1 this year, but you can celebrate anytime in October. The goal is to build our workforce of future creators. Here’s how even the smallest of…

Best practices for rural housing

Each town I visit that has had any success with housing has it’s own special way they did it.  Some places have special resources. South Dakota has a governor’s houses program. Kansas just changed their state housing bond initiative to make second story lofts eligible.  But that doesn’t help you if you’re not in those states.  Tionesta,…