You remember your small town back when there was a drugstore downtown, and lots of shops, and the theater was a happening place. You remember two hardware stores and independent gas stations. But it’s not like that anymore. You feel so sad when you think of what your town is now. Can you ever revive it, bring it back to the way it used to be?
No. Your town will never go back to the way it used to be. And that’s OK.
![]() |
Early fire department from my hometown, Alva, OK. Things have changed, and that’s okay. Postcard scanned by Rod Murrow. |
It wasn’t really like you remember.
Looking back through your memory, you’re seeing things as better than they were. That’s just how things work.
It can’t go back, any more than you can.
Face it, you’ve changed, too. You can’t go back to being the person you used to be back then. So, maybe you shouldn’t expect the town to, either.
Some changes are irrevocable.
Plant closures and company failures and disasters are irrevocable changes. No matter what you do, you can’t revoke the change. The town will never be the same.
It’s not just small towns; big cities can’t go back either.
Detroit is rebuilding, but it won’t be the same as it used to be.
![]() |
Today, Alva’s Fire Department is proud of their “Century of Service.” |
Be realistic about what your town is now.
Your has to start from where it is now. It can’t start from where it used to be. Pretend for a minute that you don’t know anything about the history. What are the current assets? What is the potential? What are the current positive trends?
The only way forward is change.
Imagine a new future, building from the existing assets, using the potential, and building on the positive trends.
Check our past articles on small town economic development for ideas. Start with Working Together, You Can Build It Yourself.
New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.
- Check your small business website for outdated pandemic changes, missing info - January 31, 2023
- Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitors - January 15, 2023
- 2023 trends for rural and small town businesses - December 26, 2022
- Local reviews on Google Maps drive enduring value - December 17, 2022
- Extra agritourism revenue from camping, cabins and RVs with HipCamp - December 12, 2022
- Harvest Hosts attract vanlifers and RV tourists, Boondockers Welcome - December 2, 2022
- Holiday 2022 marketing: Tell your founding story - December 1, 2022
- Holiday 2022 Marketing: Tell your customers’ stories - November 30, 2022
- Holiday 2022 Marketing: Introduce your people - November 29, 2022
- Holiday 2022 Marketing: Share your holiday traditions - November 28, 2022