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Free concerts draw big crowds, but no one shops local stores

By Becky McCray

  Reader Dave Tucci sent in this terrific question that you may identify with: Here in our small town Unionville, Ontario, Canada, (pop 9000) we have a free concert night every Thursday night from 7:30 to 9pm. We have awesome cover bands like Elton Rohn, Hotel California, Absolute Journey and many more. We draw crowds […]

October 23, 2017 Filed Under: Best of, entrepreneurship, marketing, rural Tagged With: retail

So what if they said it’s illegal? Doing business when it’s against the rules

By Becky McCray

Sign: 20 fine climbing or defacing water tower

    “Every one of your Innovative Rural Business Models is illegal!” That was the code enforcement guy at a recent event I spoke at. I just nodded and agreed. Yes, sure they are in some towns or in some circumstances. But so what? Don’t let an outdated law or rule stop a great idea […]

August 14, 2017 Filed Under: Best of, economic development, entrepreneurship, rural

How to cope with wild swings in income using the pressure tank method

By Becky McCray

When I was a kid, we had a water well at our house. The pump would run long enough to fill up the tank, then shut off. So the water pressure in the house was either all or nothing, kind of like your income. Being self-employed is almost synonymous with wild swings in income. Compared […]

August 7, 2017 Filed Under: Best of, entrepreneurship, finance, rural

Where your future entrepreneurs and business leaders come from

By Becky McCray

  A reader wrote to me about an influx of low-income people into his town, using subsidized housing and other community services. He said a town council member had talked about them as “a drain on resources” and “dead weight.” I got angry when I read that. But it took me awhile to figure out […]

July 25, 2017 Filed Under: Best of, community, economic development, POV, rural

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