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The next wave of opportunity

By Becky McCray

Natural Resources are the center of major entrepreneurial
opportunities. Is this the next wave of action for small town
entrepreneurs?

The broad topic of natural resources was our assignment for a “world
cafe” discussion session at the Midwest Rural Assembly yesterday. It
got me thinking about just how much of a central role natural
resources play in our opportunities, our tourism, our
entrepreneurship, and of course our agriculture.

Our young people see the resources and opportunities in the big city.
They don’t see the huge resources here, in small towns. From Twitter,
Joe Crockett asked if that was because we are in the middle of these
resources, so we just take them for granted. I think he’s absolutely
right.

How do we bring together entrepreneurship, innovation, and the
protection of natural resources for our residents, our visitors, and
our legacy? That’s the challenge.

Natural resources are also key to existing businesses making an
evolution. One example is power companies helping customers reduce
consumption. That is a major transition. More farms going more towards
organic, etc. Agriculture is transitioning in a number of ways.

Ultimately, how do we retain more of the economic benefit locally
while developing these resources? I think part of the answer is
growing local entrepreneurs and businesses around natural resources.

Natural resource development issues can be more complex than any of us
really think. The Agriculture Utilization Research Institute recently
issued a “Green jobs in food production” report. Had you really
thought about the number and diversity of entrepreneurial
opportunities just around green jobs in agriculture, production and
processing?

My local resource conservation and development council, High Plains
RC&D in Oklahoma, is quite forward thinking. They work on turning the
invasive eastern red cedars into marketable products. They are
exploring the geothermal potential in our area and how it ties to
algae production. These aren’t just dreams; they are successful
businesses, pilot projects, and demonstration units active now. If you
are looking to explore the potential of natural resources in your
area, start with your local RC&D council.

Gary Funk from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks made an
excellent point: protecting natural resources can be the issue that
brings together people in rural places. It’s the most basic form of
common ground.

  • About the Author
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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • 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
  • Economic self defense for small towns  - June 7, 2020

August 17, 2010 Filed Under: economic development, ideas, rural

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Comments

  1. Andy Hayes | Travel Online Partners says

    August 17, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    Good idea – given that our non-renewable resources appear to be non-renewing themselves pretty darn quickly, it is these resources that are next in line.

    Natural resources also tie quite closely into tourism quite a bit, so there’s some great overlap there for companies already tapping into the travel aspect.

    Great ideas – I wish I’d stay in one place long enough to act on it :)

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