Entrepreneurship:
Keys to Rural Community
Sustainability
Prepared for the Rural Community College Initiative
2004 Training Institute – Nashville, Tennessee
Mary Emery
North Central Regional
Center for Rural Development
memery@heartlandcenter.info
(404) 474-7667
the nelson institute
the nelson institute
- and McCook Community College,
a division of Mid-Plains Community College
 Institute formed in 1998 by U.S. Senator Ben Nelson for purpose of
supporting rural economic development
 Strategic alliance formed with McCook Community College in 1999
 Underlying objective to identify and integrate projects which meet
immediate, specific needs with long-term strategies for sustainability
 Five main principles:
– Awareness & education
– Mentoring & apprenticeship
– Training
– Business development (entrepreneurship)
– Leadership development
Breaking the Cycle…
 Greatest challenge to rural communities is breaking cycles of
downward economic trends and outmigration
 Strong agreement among community leaders, educators, and
development agencies that a perceived lack of economic/career
opportunities is a core factor in the current population trend in
rural communities
 Perception is directly related to several factors: the
discouraging environment of agriculture, the overall declining
economy, and the lack of capacity in rural communities to
support services and infrastructure
 Formula: Fewer producers = fewer people = fewer
businesses = fewer opportunities for young people
Entrepreneurship:
Keys to Rural Community
Sustainability
Three Keys:
Youth
Supportive community environment
Business development capacity
Key #1 - Engaging Youth: the
Southwest Nebraska YEP Model
Designed with three basic objectives:
• Reduce outmigration from rural communities;
• Diversify ag base of rural economies;
• Facilitate small business transfer.
YEP Program Goals:
 Business planning class–
teach students to “make a
job and not just take a job”;
provide important life skills;
introduce the idea of owning
their own business; and
demonstrate variety of
opportunities available.
 Mentoring – increase the
interaction of students with
community leaders and
business owners.
 Micro-loan funds – yes, we
really believe you can do it!
 Community improvement – both
projects and training to connect
young people in a meaningful
way to the community. “This is
my home and it’s important to
contribute.”
 Internships – not just job
exploration but with ultimate
goal of small business transfer.
YEP Program Format
Introductory Level:
Entrepreneur Exploration & Business Plan Development
Business Plan Development
Community Engagement Level:
Students receive preparatory training for their community projects in areas such as:
•Community Asset Mapping (What’s Here & What Can I Contribute?)
•Project Organization & Planning
•Making & Giving Presentations
•Working with the Media
•Holding Community Meetings
•Team Building & Conflict Resolution
•Decision Making
•Time Management
Internships
Business experience potentially leading to business ownership
Business Start-Up or Transition Planning
Revolving loan funds for business development and growth
Technical assistance
Private financing
Scholarships for students planning to return
Planning for post-college business opportunities
Key #2: Supportive
Community Environment
According to research from the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, communities
will be most successful when they create a positive, supportive environment for
growing entrepreneurial businesses.
Steps in the process to creating such an environment include:
Define and identify different types of entrepreneurs and attributes of each;
Conduct entrepreneurial assessment to identify appropriate target for
development efforts;
Employ an asset mapping tool to identify and assess development capacity
within a community;
Understand and utilize successful models from other communities;
Draft & implement strategy for implementation of entrepreneur
development.
Programs such as the Center’s E2 (Energizing Entrepreneurship in Rural America)
provide both professionals, and volunteers, working in rural economic
development with the skills needed to help their communities develop and sustain
entrepreneurial businesses. A session is planned at McCook Community College in
August.
Key #3 - Business
Development Capacity
According to the 2000 census:
 93% of the communities in the state of Nebraska currently have
populations of 2,000 or less and 79% have populations of 1,000 or
less; and
 Over 50% of the population now resides in six counties along the
eastern edge of the state.
These trends continue to present a challenge for rural communities in
accessing business development services.
Most rural communities work with minimal or no professional staff
supported by volunteer boards.
McCook Community College and the Nelson Institute are currently
developing an innovative program of study to provide both
professionals and volunteers working in economic development with
the necessary skills to recognize, develop and sustain entrepreneurial
businesses.