{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"S6:E1 - Microbusiness Development in Small Towns with Marci Goodwin, Katie Kelly, and Leigh Ann Brown","description":"Welcome to the first episode of season SIX of the Growing Small Towns podcast! We\u2019re starting off big by having our first-ever TRIO on the pod, and we\u2019re so excited to share this episode with you. Most small towns aren\u2019t built on startups or corporations; they\u2019re built on small (and smaller!) businesses, and today\u2019s episode is all about those \u201csmaller\u201d ones: microbusinesses. This episode explores how supporting solopreneurs, side hustles, and local makers creates stronger economies, fuller Main Streets, and communities where people can stay, build, and belong. About Marci, Katie, and Leigh Anna: Marci Goodwin is the co-founder of SmartStart Business Development and has spent over 20 years as an entrepreneur and more than 15 years educating and advocating for small and microbusiness owners\u2014long before \u201cmicrobusiness\u201d became a buzzword. She works with small and rural communities to build practical, trust-based systems that help local entrepreneurs start, grow, and stay rooted in the places they call home.  Katie Kelly is a public servant turned entrepreneur and SmartStart co-founder who learned a lot about business development the hard way. She used her experiences to develop a system to help others avoid common pitfalls and launch businesses that are set up for success. Leigh Ann Brown has over 20 years of experience in economic development and has a passion for helping community leaders support local microbusinesses. She has served as a Main Street Director, Economic Development Director, and Chamber Director, giving her firsthand insight into the day-to-day demands of these roles. She joined SmartStart as Director of Next Steps to help communities reach their economic development goals through practical, turnkey solutions that don\u2019t get pushed to the bottom of the task list.   In this episode, we cover: Why microbusinesses are the majority, yet they\u2019re still underserved. Why it\u2019s okay to not want to scale Why sustainable businesses are built by understanding customers, not chasing grants How small investments can create big ripples (and you know how much we love a ripple effect!) Why community matters just as much as the tools. Links + Resources Mentioned: SmartStart website: https:\/\/www.smartstartcommunity.com\/ Want to get your business in front of our audience? We are looking for podcast sponsors! Each season, we feature a select group of Small Business Partners\u2014brands that share our mission to celebrate small-town life and big ideas. With a 4\u20136% average Facebook engagement rate (well above the industry average), 2,600+ loyal followers, and 45,000 monthly content views, we have an amazing, highly engaged audience of people who can\u2019t wait to learn more about you. When we feature you, your story, and your product\/service, it\u2019s like a friend\u2019s recommendation, because it is. Want to know more? Reach out to us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org We have a membership! Join the GST Club \u2014 a virtual support community built for those leading change in small-town America. For $30\/month, you\u2019ll get twice-monthly live calls with Rebecca, access to a private network of fellow small-town changemakers, replay recordings, frameworks, and early access to GST events. It\u2019s for anyone from volunteers and entrepreneurs to city officials who believe small towns deserve big ideas and better leadership. Part think-tank. Part pep-talk. Part creative jam session. All support.  We Want to Hear From You! We really, really do, and if you\u2019ll let us, we\u2019d love to feature your actual message just like we did with Terri\u2019s (with your permission, of course!) Some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we\u2019ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We\u2019re have two \u201cparticipation dance\u201d elements of the show: \u201cSmall town humblebrags\u201d: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small\u2014we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  \u201cSolving Your Small-Town People Challenges\u201d: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we\u2019ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We\u2019re suave like that.  If you\u2019ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can\u2019t wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode\/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week\u2019s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!   ","author_name":"The Growing Small Towns Show","author_url":"https:\/\/growingsmalltowns.show","html":"