Revitalizing Rural America: Empowering Downtown Entrepreneurs Through Strategic Development

Join Jenn Gregory, President of Downtown Strategies at Retail Strategies for insightful webinar on revitalizing downtowns in rural America. Rural downtowns face unique challenges in today's economy, yet they remain vital hubs for entrepreneurship and community identity. This webinar explores proven strategies for economic developers to transform downtown districts into thriving small business ecosystems. Drawing from successful case studies and implementable approaches, this webinar will demonstrate how targeted incentives, innovative space solutions, and supportive infrastructure can catalyze rural entrepreneurship. Participants will discover how investing in downtown vitality creates a multiplier effect—attracting diverse businesses, increasing foot traffic, and fostering community wealth that extends beyond the downtown core. From micro-retail opportunities to restaurant incubators, this session provides practical tools for communities seeking to harness their distinctive assets and empower local entrepreneurs.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify effective incentive programs specifically tailored to rural downtown entrepreneurs
• Explore innovative approaches to micro-retail and food-based business development
• Learn strategies for creating affordable, flexible incubator spaces in existing downtown buildings
• Understand the connection between downtown placemaking and entrepreneurial ecosystem development
• Create an action plan for implementing entrepreneur-focused downtown initiatives in your community