Back in January of 2006, I reminded you of the old bumper sticker joke:
My question then was what will you do with this oil boom? We’re nearly three years further into this boom since I asked. Let me remind you of two of the answers:
- For community development, Community Foundations help keep more of the wealth at home. They allow your community to capture a small percentage of the wealth that is about to be transferred out of town when the “old” generation dies off, and leaves the land and minerals to their city-dwelling kids.
- For your business, save some proceeds towards the lean times ahead. You know that every boom has a bust. Do what you can to be ready.
Local motels have stayed full of work crews. Restaurants have fed lots of extra meals. Mechanics have had lots of extra business. Certainly the liquor business has benefited, as well.
It’s been easy for everyone who wants a job, to find one. It’s been tough for businesses to find enough people to fill the available openings and to compete with wages offered by oil field jobs.
And it’s all temporary. We know full well that it will come to an end. The recent decline in crude oil and gasoline prices are enough to remind us.
So I ask again, what are you doing with this oil boom?
New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.
- Downtown is your town’s core: How to make your case - February 22, 2021
- Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
- In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
- Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
- How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
- The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
- Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
- Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
- Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
- Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
