By Marci Goodwin, co-founder of SmartStart Business Development

Over the past few months, the SmartStart Business Development team has been deep in the weeds researching rural entrepreneurship programs to better understand what is actually happening on the ground with local microbusinesses and how communities support them.

Microbusinesses are those with less than 10 employees and make up 96% of all small businesses in the U.S. These are the mom and pop stores on Main Street, the local hair stylists, and the maker creating jewelry at her kitchen table to see online or in local vendor fairs. These are the businesses that make small communities thrive.

The goal of our deep dive was simple: figure out what’s working, what isn’t working, and where the gaps are. A few patterns quickly became clear.

1. Most rural entrepreneurship programs aren’t designed for microbusinesses

Many initiatives described as entrepreneurship programs are actually designed for a very specific type of entrepreneur: high-growth startups that want to scale quickly. Other programs or initiatives are designed for large employer businesses or businesses who want to scale.

Those programs can absolutely be valuable, but they serve a very small slice of entrepreneurs in rural and small communities — not microbusinesses.

Microbusinesses do not need pitch decks, venture capital, or the business model templates meant for large-scale startups. Start-ups are building for speed, scale, and venture capital investments.

Microbusiness owners are building to bolster or replace their job income and provide goods and services to their communities. They need to know how to build a stable, sustainable business – not how to disrupt industries.

2. Microbusiness programs are usually temporary

In the communities where microbusiness support programs were in place, it often looked like:

• a micro-loan program
• a short training cohort
• access to a business coach during a grant year
• random small business workshops

Each of these can help, but most are pilot programs tied to short-term funding. When the grant ends, the program often disappears — and so does microbusiness support.

Entrepreneurship, however, doesn’t operate on a grant timeline. People explore business ideas, launch ventures, struggle, pivot, adapt, and grow over many years.

Short-term programs can provide helpful sparks, but they rarely create lasting entrepreneurial support systems.

3. Many small business programs focus on space or capital, not business fundamentals

Another pattern we saw repeatedly is that many microbusiness initiatives focus on providing space or capital, but not ongoing business development support.

Communities often invest in:

• shared retail incubators
• commercial kitchens
• coworking spaces
• micro-loan funds

These can all be valuable tools. But many entrepreneurs still struggle with the fundamentals of running a business – like identifying their ideal customers, pricing their products or services, and building a marketing strategy.

Without ongoing guidance in these areas, early investments in space or capital don’t always translate into long-term success. Business owners need to know how to run their business once they are in the space, not just how to access it.

In many cases, a more effective starting point is not building something new, but using what already exists.

We see this play out in simple, practical ways – microbusiness owners testing products at vendor markets, or selling through shared retail shelves inside existing Main Street shops. These low-cost, real-world environments give entrepreneurs a chance to learn, adapt, and build customers before taking on the risk of a full storefront.

Instead of investing heavily in new incubator spaces, communities can often get better results by creating more of these opportunities for microbusinesses to test and grow within the systems that are already in place.

This could free up more funds for microgrants and microloans for those business owners within the support system who now know how to invest the money wisely in their businesses.

What this tells us

Taken together, these patterns reveal something important.

Many rural and small communities genuinely want to support entrepreneurs, but the programs designed to do that often miss the majority of entrepreneurs who actually exist or aren’t available long enough to make a lasting impact.

Meanwhile, the microbusiness owners who make up the backbone of their communities need practical business education geared toward microbusinesses, guidance, and support that exists over time, not just during a grant cycle.

The bigger opportunity for rural communities

In a recent conversation with Mary Athey, VP of Entrepreneurship at the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, she shared what she’s learned from overseeing the Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) program that perfectly summarizes what we’ve seen as well:

Rural entrepreneurship programs work best when they are embedded in local or regional economic development strategies — not treated as one-off projects.

In most other areas of economic development — workforce development, business attraction, and downtown revitalization — communities have built permanent support systems and institutions, not just short-term programs.

Workforce development has workforce boards, training institutions, and ongoing funding streams. Business attraction has dedicated economic development organizations, marketing strategies, and incentive structures. Downtown revitalization has long-term programs like Main Street America that provide ongoing coordination, promotion, and business support.

These efforts are not treated as temporary experiments. They are embedded into how communities approach economic development.

Microbusiness support, however, rarely has the same level of permanent infrastructure with a cohesive system behind it. Instead, it is often delivered through short-term projects that appear for a year or two and then disappear when funding runs out.

Questions worth asking

Microbusinesses are the backbone of the rural economy and make up 96% of all small businesses. We discussed their economic impact here.

These entrepreneurs need support beyond random workshops and a website full of links and videos with no direction.

Entrepreneurship isn’t like a job that you start and stop in a specific timeframe. People need support when they explore a business idea, launch their business, struggle, pivot, and grow. Those needs don’t happen on a grant timeline.

This raises important questions for communities:

• Are we launching one-off entrepreneurship or microbusiness projects, or building systems that support entrepreneurs over time?
• What would it look like if supporting microbusinesses became a permanent part of our local, regional, or statewide economic development strategy?

Hometown newspapers are small businesses, just like the hardware store, the cafe, or the auto repair shop. They’re not just “media.” They’re employers, sponsors, storytellers, and neighbors, and their work ripples through every corner of the community.

This year, collaboration is a focus of ours at SaveYour.Town, and I want to talk about how newspapers and local businesses can truly work together. Both sides bring value. Your newspaper can be an incredible resource for your business, and your support helps keep local journalism strong.

 

Use Your Local Paper as a Valuable Resource

Share Your Press Releases 

Newspapers still do something better than almost anyone else: they get local information in front of local people. When you’ve got something to share—a new product, an event, a success story—send a press release to every paper you can: your hometown, nearby towns, and regional outlets.

A good advertising department won’t just print your story, they’ll help you build on it. They might mock up ads, stop by your business, or help turn that small piece of news into a bigger presence. Local stories and local advertising work hand in hand, keeping attention, dollars, and pride right where they belong: in your community.

If they don’t do this automatically, you can do it yourself: mockup your own ad and ask about it when carrying the press release.

Photos Make that the Newspaper Make Everyone Smile

In one small town, the local newspaper ran photos of everyone who bought a seat in the Save the Webster Theater fundraiser. People cut out their pictures, shared them, and proudly showed them off. That’s the magic of local journalism—it celebrates people, connects neighbors, and turns ordinary moments into community pride.

No social media algorithm can do that. Only someone who knows the people and the place can.
What could you do like that in your community?

Newspapers Fit in the New Way to Market

Marketing in newspapers used to be the way to reach your audience. Now, it’s part of a mix that includes social media, email newsletters, and websites. Successful newspapers have adapted; they’re publishing both online and in print, meeting readers where they are.

Your local paper might even offer digital ads, social media promotions, or direct marketing campaigns. Those “new ways” are built on the trust and relationships newspapers have earned over decades. Going digital doesn’t replace print—it expands your reach while keeping your connection local.

Collaboration, Not Just Ads

Your hometown paper already captures the heartbeat of your community—business updates, church events, reunions, and celebrations. Now’s the time to think about how to collaborate more deeply.

How can your business and your newspaper co-create campaigns, share stories, and build relationships that last? When you work together, everyone benefits. The stories are richer, the economy is stronger, and the sense of pride runs deeper.

Supporting your local newspaper is part of “shop local.” A town that values its local news invests in its own future. When local media lose revenue, you feel it—in fewer stories, less coverage, and fewer opportunities to connect. Supporting your paper means investing in your town’s voice—and your business benefits from that, too.

How Newspapers Can Be Better Local Businesses

Tell Your Own Story

Newspapers can strengthen their community connection by telling their own story. Don’t assume people know what you do—show them.

• Share the range of what you cover, from birthdays and sports to civic meetings.
• Introduce your team so readers can connect faces to bylines.
• Celebrate your achievements and update readers on what’s next.
• Use your website and social channels to share more stories beyond print.

Many of you already show up at council meetings, Friday night games, and ribbon cuttings. You share obituaries, honor rolls, and community milestones—let us know where to find those stories online, too.

Make It Easy to Work With You

A simple “Work With Us” webpage or one-sheet can make advertising easier for local businesses. Include who your readers are, which sections perform best, and when seasonal peaks happen. That turns your newspaper from “a place to buy ads” into “a partner that helps small businesses grow.”

Here’s what could go on that page or a simple one-sheet:

• Who reads your paper: top age ranges, key ZIP codes, and the most popular sections.
• When they read it: weekday vs. weekend audience.
• Which sections work best for which audiences: weekend features for families, sports for local fans, business page for professionals.
• Seasonal spikes: back-to-school, holidays, elections, big local events—so advertisers can time their campaigns.

Go Deeper with Small Businesses

Small businesses and newspapers need each other. Let’s move beyond “Do you want to buy an ad?” and instead ask, “How can we work together long-term?”

Try things like:

• Basic ad-planning sessions
  • Sit down with businesses and help them:
  • Define their ideal customer using your readership data.
  • Choose the right sections and days.
  • Set a realistic frequency so the message has time to work.
• “Track-with-us” packages Don’t just run ads—help track what happens. Include:
  • A clear call-to-action (bring in this coupon, scan this QR code, visit this URL).
  • A unique coupon, QR code, or URL for that campaign.
  • A simple tracking sheet or shared dashboard.
  • A short results review at the end: what worked, what didn’t, and what to try next.
• Reader surveys for advertisers. Run occasional sponsored questions like:
  • “Where do you shop for gifts?”
  • “Which restaurants do you visit most often?” This engages readers and gives advertisers insight they cannot get from a generic online dashboard.

These steps can turn newspapers from simple ad vendors into trusted community partners and problem-solvers.

 Shop local is even more important these days. And that includes your local newspaper.

People need a compelling reason to leave their homes and come experience your business with you. This feels like a very heavy lift.

.

You’re supposed to be exciting enough to pull people away from their phones, their families and the comfort of online shopping. You’re competing with everything else demanding their attention.

Here’s the big secret: You don’t have to create all that energy yourself.

Piggyback on What’s Already Happening

Your community probably already has regular events that pull people out of their homes.

Art walks. First Fridays. Girls night out shopping events. Farmers markets. Chamber mixers.

People are already planning to attend these, or thinking about it. Some are already coming downtown or to your area.

Your job is to give them one more reason to show up.

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What Doesn’t Work: Just staying open during the community event

No experience. No transformation. Just… open, like you are every other day.

That’s not enough.

What Does Work: Make a Thing out of it

You have to create something special that happens during that regular community event. Here are ideas:

• Demos – Product demos, technique demonstrations, how-to sessions
• Mini services – super quick fashion nails, or 5 minute financial boost
• Meet the experts – A real estate agent hosting “meet the lenders.” A feed store bringing in a vet for cattle health Q&A during the farmers market.
• Workshops or mini-classes – Quick skill-building sessions people can actually use. Sounds like a lot for a shopping day, so keep it light and quick.
• Make and take projects – People love leaving with something they created
• Trunk shows or special collection reveals – Show merchandise you don’t normally carry
• Live entertainment – Music, performances, even personal star chart readings (yes, really – Gen Z is into astrology and all that)
• Tasting or sampling events – Let people experience your products
• Q&A sessions or “ask me anything” – Be available for real questions
• Behind-the-scenes tours – Show them what they don’t normally see (people love back room tours)
• Out of town big names – Bring in expertise people want to hear from

Pick one. Make it yours. Do a fresh edition of it every time that community event happens.

You become the tipping point

Someone was thinking about coming to art walk. Then they heard you’re doing that demo they’ve been curious about. Now they’re definitely coming.

You’re not competing for attention. You’re adding value to something people already plan to attend. Or at least thought about attending.

And here’s your new go-to move: When anyone expresses interest in your business but never seems to make it in person? Don’t just “follow up.” Invite them to your special thing during the next community event.

“Hey, I’m doing a live demo during First Friday – would love to see you there!”

You still have to do your regular marketing like mailing postcards, sharing photos, but you’re supercharging it with a deadline. And then you’re layering it with repeated messages.

“Our demo was packed! We’re doing another (a little different) next month!”

The Small Town Reality: Fewer people, less turnout

Yes, rural areas have fewer people. That means fewer potential attendees. Less momentum each time. It’s harder to keep events going on your own.

That’s exactly why piggybacking on existing events is brilliant for small towns. The event is already happening. People are already considering attending. You’re just giving them one more reason to come.

Start Small, Keep Going

1. Pick one existing community event.
2. Create one simple thing to offer during that event.
3. Commit to showing up consistently with your thing every single time.

That’s it. That’s the whole strategy.

You don’t need elaborate planning or big budgets. You need one good reason for people to experience your business, timed to when they’re already planning to be out.

The Opportunity: Most businesses aren’t doing this.

Some businesses might stay open during community events. But most are not creating experiences.

You will stand out.

When you’re the business that always has something interesting happening during art walk, or First Friday, or girls night out – people start planning around you. You become part of why they attend the community event in the first place.

So what’s your thing? And which community event will you tie it to?

We ended up in a Colombian mine controlled by a drug cartel.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — Former Arsenal and Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil has encouraged Malaysia to strengthen investment in youth academies and grassroots development to elevate its football standards.

Ozil, also a German international from 2009 to 2018, said building a strong football ecosystem begins with nurturing young talents through proper education and structured support across all levels of the game.

"What’s important in football is making good investments in academies and young people, and supporting amateur and professional clubs,” he said at the Malaysia-Turkiye Leadership Summit 2026 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) here today.

He also stressed that a long-term commitment to youth development could see more Malaysian players making their mark internationally.

"I think if this is done as a country, then many Malaysian football players will be seen on the world stage,” the German-born Ozil, son of Turkish immigrants, added.

On handling pressure at the highest level, Ozil cited self-belief and trust in teammates as the key, particularly in high-stakes matches.

"On the field, I never felt pressure. I always believed in myself and my teammates. Even when we lost big games, we never gave up and always tried to improve,” he said, adding that 

He also stressed that true leadership is reflected in how individuals respond to setbacks.

"If everything is going well, it is easy. But when something goes wrong, you have to learn from your mistakes and come back stronger,” he added.

The summit, which drew more than 500 participants, was also attended by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and the president of the Council of Higher Education Türkiye, Professor Dr Erol Özvar.

It also featured a special session with prominent figures, such as Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah and Polity Executive Chair Nurul Izzah Anwar.

The strategic initiative was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Sycamore Foundation.

-- BERNAMA

TAGS: Mesut Ozil, German, Malaysia-Turkiye Leadership Summit 2026, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, investment

We ended up in a Colombian mine controlled by a drug cartel.

KOTA KINABALU, April 27 — The federal government must have stronger commitment towards implementing the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and increasing development allocations for Sabah, said Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Chin Su Phin.

“MA63 is not a new demand, but a constitutionally grounded and historically binding agreement that clearly defines Sabah’s position and rights within the Federation.

“Even as legal proceedings continue, the federal government’s responsibilities to Sabah remain and must not be used as justification to delay or weaken the implementation of Sabah’s rights,” he said during the party’s 6th Supreme Council Meeting yesterday.

On fiscal matters, Chin noted that Sabah appreciated the federal government’s continued provision of special allocations, including about RM600 million in 2025, but voiced concerns that the allocation for 2026 may remain unchanged.

“In the face of increasing development needs, a stagnant allocation is difficult to accept. Allocations should grow in tandem with Sabah’s actual needs to reflect the spirit of MA63.

“Rights under MA63 are not conditional and should not be influenced by external factors such as global economic pressures or geopolitical developments,” he said.

He also proposed the federal government consider increasing the allocation to RM900 million to ensure sufficient funding for development needs.

He said additional funds should prioritise urgent infrastructure requirements, particularly road maintenance, and be implemented through agencies such as the Public Works Department, urban road concessionaires and local authorities.

“Public dissatisfaction over road conditions has been rising, especially in Kota Kinabalu and other West Coast urban areas. Road maintenance responsibilities are shared among multiple entities—all which face financial constraints. Special allocations are crucial in bridging this funding gap,” he said.

He added that the key issue now is not the availability of funds, but the effectiveness of implementation and the political will to deliver results.

“For the people, whether it is the federal, state or local government, what ultimately matters is results,” he said. — The Borneo Post