Abstract
This paper elaborates on the development of a small business certificate program in rural Kansas. Researchers and local practitioners suggest that there are differences between rural and urban small businesses and that most educational programs do not account for these differences. After exploratory research, the university team identified specific needs facing local businesses and tailored a program for their needs. A program structure and set of topics, paired with faculty experts was developed and implemented. Topics focused on developing an entrepreneurial orientation, as well as certain business fundamentals that were deemed critical to small rural businesses. Each topic was oriented toward the rural context where face to face business is more essential. A feedback loop was implemented leading to a shorter 8-week timeframe and some topic adjustments. To date, 378 firms have participated in the program and have shown an 80% survival rate. Specific feedback has indicated that business growth has occurred and that the respondents do perceive development in their entrepreneurial orientation. In addition, specific skill areas related to unique businesses have been improved. Lastly, the program participants have grown their regional business networks, which has been shown to be an important factor for rural business success.
Highlights
Throughout rural America, there are tremendous pressures on small businesses and their survival
The paper discusses a learning process used to create a strategy for the delivery of a certificate program as well as for creating a network for rural small businesses
The group raised issues regarding limited resources, technology, financing, and issues facing remote location like limited broadband. These are similar issues facing all small businesses in some form or another, the issues seemed to be of greater importance for rural businesses because of the structural realities of the rural market and the lack of available educational and training for business owners
Summary
Throughout rural America, there are tremendous pressures on small businesses and their survival. Few of the government programs accounted for these types of differences and while the Greenberg tornado was the original impetus for aiding the rural business community, the team’s research provided additional support for a new program that offered “street-level solutions” to small rural businesses. Based on these findings, Network Kansas collaborated with the university to support the creation of a rural certificate program initially aimed at aiding businesses in Greensburg, KS
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