SmartStart Business Development is an innovative startup dedicated to bolstering small business ecosystems in small, rural communities. Recognizing the unique challenges and limited resources often faced in these areas, SmartStart offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to aspiring and current entrepreneurs. At the heart of its offerings is an online platform that guides individuals through the intricacies of starting and managing a business, covering everything from initial concept development to marketing. This platform is complemented by connections to vital small business resources, ensuring entrepreneurs have access to the tools and support they need within their community. Additionally, SmartStart enriches the entrepreneurial journey with monthly workshops, fostering skill development and knowledge sharing. These workshops, along with targeted entrepreneur engagement initiatives, not only aid individual business owners but also contribute to the overall growth and strengthening of local small business ecosystems. SmartStart's mission is to fill the gap in professional capacity and expertise in rural areas, empowering these communities to nurture thriving, sustainable businesses.
SmartStart Business Development的外部链接
US，IL，Peoria
Partnerships with the community and funds from the @ildpea make SmartStart Business Development projects possible!
The SmartStart program helps small businesses across Illinois’ Peoria and Tazewell Counties navigate the process of starting and building their business. Learn more – https://bit.ly/3Oqml8N
Thank you, Jamie Beasley! The SmartStart Micro-Catalyst is the go-to newsletter for champions of small-town and rural economic development through?entrepreneurship and microbusiness support.?Whether you're a municipal leader, NGO, or community advocate, this newsletter is designed with you in mind.
Do you want to help small businesses start and thrive in our community? Start by building the ecosystem.
Are you ready to transform your rural or small community through entrepreneurship? Do you want to fill those empty Main Street storefronts with sustainable businesses? Not sure how to get it done? ?The SmartStart Community Cohort may be for you!? SmartStart Community Cohort is a one-year program that gives you access to a comprehensive support system designed to empower small and rural communities by fostering local entrepreneurship. We provide community leaders, economic developers, and small business champions like yourself with the tools, resources, and training they need to cultivate thriving ecosystems of microbusinesses saving you time and money necessary to create a system on their own. Our proven approach includes community assessments, ongoing training, and a suite of ready-to-use resources, such as workshops, templates, and our online SmartStart Dashboard, all aimed at filling vacant storefronts and revitalizing local economies. Whether you're working with aspiring entrepreneurs or established small businesses, SmartStart helps create sustainable growth in your community. ??The next cohort launches in January. Schedule a time to chat to see if the SmartStart Community Cohort is right for you! https://lnkd.in/g94j3Y3J #smallbusinessdevelopment #ruraldevelopment
Have you ever wondered what it would take to transform your community into a vibrant hub of small business activity? For many small and rural towns, it's not a lack of ambition or ideas that holds people back—it's the missing support and the right resources to bring those dreams to life. That's where our upcoming SmartStart Cohort can make a difference. Launching this January, we’re inviting 5-8 communities to join a collaborative journey, one that’s designed to create a steady pipeline of local businesses ready to fill vacant storefronts and add to the quality of life in your community. Imagine having a proven turnkey solution that saves you time, reduces the need for piecemeal programs, and helps ensure your efforts actually lead to thriving businesses. Here’s how the SmartStart Cohort can support your community: Ready-to-Use Program: We provide a SmartStart Playbook—a collection of monthly workshop plans, curriculum, and hands-on strategies to develop your local small businesses. Monthly Cohort Calls: Training and connection calls will let you learn from both our team and other small-town leaders across the country. SmartStart Dashboard: Our online small business education platform allows local business owners to access essential training and resources anytime they need it. Office Hours & Support: Monthly office hours for live Q&A mean that you’re never alone in navigating challenges—our experts and your peers are here to help. Outreach Made Easy: We supply email and social media templates to spread the word and attract potential entrepreneurs to your program. This isn’t just a business development program. It’s a community revitalization effort—one that empowers you to bring more local businesses into your downtown, grow the quality of life for residents, and provide meaningful support for entrepreneurs. If you're a small business development professional, Main Street Director, or community leader who wants to bring growth and excitement back to your town, we'd love for you to join us. Want to learn more about what the SmartStart Cohort can offer your community? Schedule a time to chat https://lnkd.in/g94j3Y3J ?Let’s bring life back to your Main Street, one storefront at a time. #mainstreet #ruraldevelopment #smallbusinessdevelopment
Sometimes you just have to stop and celebrate! ?? This October, SmartStart has plenty of reasons to smile: ? One year of service in Pekin and Delavan, IL ? New businesses opening their doors ? Strong, growing local small business communities ? Renewed contracts that keep us going strong through 2025! Instead of our usual monthly in-person workshops, we’re taking a break to celebrate a year of progress with our SmartStart community. We’re hosting social events in 2 of our communities—offering a fun, laid-back evening to reflect on the successes of the past year. It will also be the perfect time to invite those who haven’t yet connected with SmartStart to join us and discover how we can help turn their business dreams into reality. ??What are you doing in your community to celebrate success? #ruraldevelopment #microbusinesses #mainstreet #smartstartcommunity Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Amy Whiting-McCoy Kathleen Kelly Leigh Ann Brown Marci Goodwin
How is your community helping its microbusiness owners secure funding?
Rural Small Business Advocate ?? Growing small-town success stories?? Can be found hiking, kayaking, or enjoying a local music venue????♀???
Did you know the average startup cost for a microbusiness is just $3,000? It seems like a relatively small amount, but it can be a huge hurdle for many aspiring entrepreneurs. Even though traditional loans and grants seem like viable options, they're often out of reach for microbusiness owners. Here’s why: ??Grant Funding Challenges: They’re not as abundant as people think, are highly competitive, and often have strict stipulations. ??Traditional Loan Barriers: Lack of credit history, perceived risk, small loan amounts, and insufficient business planning make traditional lenders wary of microbusinesses. ???What is your community doing the help microbusinesses overcome these financial obstacles? (If you are a subscriber to the SmartStart Micro-Catalyst newsletter, check your inbox for some ideas and insight ??) #microbusiness #microbusinesses #ruraldevelopment #mainstreet
SmartStart Micro-Catalyst is?the go-to newsletter for champions of small-town and rural economic development through?entrepreneurship and microbusiness support.?Whether you're a municipal leader, NGO, or community advocate, this newsletter is designed with you in mind. Past newsletter topics: ?Why Microbusinesses Matter ?An Overlooked Local Microbusiness Resource ?The Power Of Roundtable Discussions Subscribe here --> https://bit.ly/3Yozd5p
SmartStart Business Development转发了
Rural Small Business Advocate ?? Growing small-town success stories?? Can be found hiking, kayaking, or enjoying a local music venue????♀???
If you want to grow your microbusiness ecosystem, don't do dry, boring "workshops". Try something more collaborative. In this week's SmartStart Business Development Micro-Catalyst newsletter, we share an approach that is working for us. Subscribe here ---> https://bit.ly/3Yozd5p
Bring life back to your Main Street!?? Vacant Main Street storefronts, dwindling foot traffic, and declining local economies are common struggles of small towns and rural communities across the country. The good news? You can reignite your community’s entrepreneurial spirit and bring new life to your town. At SmartStart Business Development, our passion is empowering rural and small-town leaders to revive and activate their local microbusiness ecosystems. Our proven system provides you with everything you need—from a comprehensive ecosystem assessment to ongoing support and ready-to-use resources. With our help, you can fill those vacant storefronts, create a vibrant, thriving business district, and renew community pride. Here’s what SmartStart offers: ?? In-depth Ecosystem Assessment ?? An Online Microbusiness Education Platform ?? Monthly Zoom Training Sessions for the local SmartStart Leader ?? 24/7 Email Support & Weekly Office Hours ??? Workshop ToolKit ?? A Complete Connection System (ready-made schedules, scripts, social media content, and more) Ready to transform your town and attract new businesses? Let’s work together to make it happen. ?? ?? Drop a comment below or send us a message to learn how you can bring life back to your main street! ?? We can’t wait to hear from you! --------- Leigh Ann Brown Kathleen Kelly Marci Goodwin