Help is at hand for rural small businesses
Kat Johnson sought the advice of a SCORE mentor when starting her farm in Virginia.
WHEN KAT JOHNSON launched her salad-centric farm in Check, Virginia, she faced problems typical of small businesses in rural areas.
“Making decisions in isolation is really intimidating,” she explains. “This was especially true in a situation where I did not know what was ‘normal’ or what to expect before I experienced it.”
Her situation was not unusual. Small businesses located in rural areas have a tougher time of growing their ventures. They face greater challenges to succeed than large businesses located in rural areas do.
Statistics reflect the problem. Although large businesses in rural areas grew by 13% from 2012 to 2019 those small businesses in rural areas grew by only 1%.
Rural entrepreneurs are more likely than non-rural entrepreneurs to be hit by higher costs of doing business, according to a recent survey.
But help was at hand for Johnson.
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She took advantage of a the help of a mentor from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), a nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
As the nation’s largest network of volunteer expert business mentors, SCORE is working to change the trend by providing rural small businesses with the resources and mentoring support they need to achieve greater growth. SCORE offers rural entrepreneurs access to free, personalized guidance from small business mentors across the country who are experts in various industries and business strategies, including the challenges faced by those in rural communities.
“My SCORE mentor is interested in seeing me reach my goals, do my best and anticipate the next phase of business life that is ahead of me,” Johnson says.
Alongside mentoring, SCORE also offers a variety of resources specifically designed for small businesses. From online workshops and courses to helpful articles and templates, SCORE provides entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools they need to develop their businesses and reach their full potential.
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"Rural entrepreneurs have a longer-term outlook, with many influenced by the weather and the growth cycles of crops and animals," says SCORE mentor Kurt Hulliger.
"They are entrusted with improving the land to guarantee healthful products for their customers. I enjoy working over years with my clients and developing friendships that last."
Through its local and national networks of community and government partners, SCORE can also assist rural entrepreneurs when it comes to finding and navigating funding opportunities.
"Our critical rural business funding is supported in foundational ways by our partnership with SCORE," explains Rhiannon Hampson, Maine State Director at USDA Rural Development.
"With the support and services they provide, SCORE is helping our USDA RD dollars go further, be more strategically invested and ultimately create success stories for the community as a whole."
With SCORE's help, rural small businesses can access the expertise, resources and support they need to overcome the challenges they face. This ultimately leads to greater growth opportunities for these businesses, which in turn contributes to the economic development of rural communities.