January 2009

An Advantage for Rural Home Businesses

January 6, 2009

Home based rural businesses are uniquely positioned for a positive year in 2009.

Create a Rural Chamber of Commerce

January 5, 2009

Even in a rural country location, rural businesses can be quite diverse, having little in common except the residents that live in the area. But what about the beautiful scenery, wildflowers, wildlife and heritage they share? A cluster of businesses could join together and promote the resources they have in common to the traveling public. [...]

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Measuring Rurality: What is Rural?

January 4, 2009

Sometimes it’s difficult to define what constitutes ‘rural life’ or a ‘rural business’. According to official U.S. Census Bureau definitions, rural areas comprise open country and populations or ‘settlements’ with fewer than 2,500 residents.

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Alabama Rural Business Development

January 4, 2009

List of Alabama Rural Business Development resources

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What do you want most this year?

January 4, 2009

There are two things to aim at in life; first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind has achieved the second. Logan Pearsall Smith

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The Old Year Has Gone

January 3, 2009

The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months! ~Edward Payson Powell

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Ringing in the New Year

January 2, 2009

Now that our 2008 records can be finalized, it’s time to print them out and take a good, hard look. Were you up or down when compared to 2007? What about a month by month comparison? Were there increases or decreases in foot traffic to your retail store or visitors to your webstore? What kind [...]

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Welcome to the Backroads Business Blog

January 1, 2009

Welcome to Backroads Business where we explore the challenges of creating and growing rural businesses located on the backroads of small town America. Our areas of discussion will include home business, small business, rural business, seasonal business, mom and pop businesses, arts and craft businesses, artists, farms (agritourism) and tourism.