{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"S6:E13 - How to Harness Creativity to Create Value in Small Towns with Jordan DeGree","description":"Some people are just wired to make things better\u2013in their businesses, their communities, their small towns\u2013even when it's hard, and nobody around them quite gets it. This episode is for those people. We get it. Today\u2019s guest, Jordan DeGree, gets it. And he has created the Rural Ideas Network to connect you with other people who get it, too. Today\u2019s episode is what support and connection can look like, and where you can find them. About Jordan: Jordan DeGree is an entrepreneur, social innovator, artist, and comedian. No, just kidding about the comedian part. He's experimented with several different ventures and enjoys solving problems, creating value, and helping people. Jordan and his team launched the Rural Ideas Network, a nonprofit organization, in 2021. They continue to evolve how it supports and connects rural innovators in small communities across the country. Some random stats - Jordan has 3 kids, an $11M real estate portfolio, was awarded a Governor's Volunteer Award, has a 4.96 star host rating on Airbnb, changed his major 4 times in college, has helped hundreds of rural ventures since 2021, teaches a stained glass class most Tuesdays, and has successfully avoided joining LinkedIn. He's at his best helping people think outside the box and finding new opportunities to create value. You can learn more about Jordan at JordanDeGree.com.  In this episode, we cover: The origin story of the Rural Ideas Network \u2014 and what five years of experimenting built into RIN 2.0 Why "Rural Innovator" is a bigger tent than you might think The new Rural Innovator Awards, the wildcard category, and the October 8th Summit date you'll want to save Rebecca's honest reflection on almost quitting \u2014 and what pulled her back Why "where you're standing determines what you see" might be the most useful thing you hear this week Links + Resources Mentioned: Rural Ideas Network: https:\/\/ruralideas.net\/ Growing Small Towns Club: https:\/\/www.growingsmalltowns.org\/club 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":"