In 2023, Main Street America and Forward Cities developed and implemented a pilot program focused on creating effective, equitable, and inclusive community support networks for rural entrepreneurs. Working with nine fantastic Main Street Coordinators, the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (E3) in Rural Main Streets Program spans the nation and includes 30 rural communities with both unique and similar challenges. 

Nine statewide workshops were offered as part of phase one of the pilot program, covering the basics of the rural framework for entrepreneurial ecosystem building. Revitalization specialists, small business owners, community leaders, and Main Streeters attended the workshops. We want to highlight the biggest takeaways from the workshop experiences and phase one. We encourage you to review that piece here.

We are so proud of our work from phase one and are excited to share these overarching takeaways with our network. Above all, it’s clear to me that rural communities in our network are craving content and tools that speak to rural culture, rural diversity, and rural civic infrastructure. This is just the surface of the hard work we must do – together. It cannot wait.

With well over 300,000 small businesses in Main Street America’s network— and more on the way— supporting and uplifting entrepreneurs and small business owners is integral to the success of all things Main Street. The E3 team worked hard to craft content that was practical and ready for application, but also challenged Main Streets and Community Leaders to identify gaps in and obstacles to accessing their programming.

“The Main Street programs that participated in the entrepreneurial workshop last fall really took away principles they could use in their downtown right away. With that said, those that were awarded the technical services grant in their community are very excited to receive those on-site services this summer,” shared Keith Winge, State Community Development Director at Missouri Main Street Connection. ​“Entrepreneur development is vital to their downtown strategy for filling vacancies and the tools they will get from this service will be vital that effort.”

“I am profoundly grateful for the invaluable partnership with Main Street America in spearheading the E3 program”, shared Fay Horwitt, President & CEO of Forward Cities. ​“It is our hope that, through this vital work, we are empowering participants to cultivate effective, inclusive support networks that bolster rural entrepreneurs and invigorate their Main Streets that reflect the full tapestry of their communities.”

Phase two kicks off soon and will offer the 30 selected communities seed funding, on the ground support, virtual programming, and a nationwide network of rural ecosystem builders as they work toward integrating this framework into their Main Street programming and processes.

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of communities, especially in the rural places they call home. At Main Street America, we recognize that supporting these ventures goes beyond offering resources; it’s about fostering a culture of encouragement and resilience,” says Joi Cuartero Austin, Senior Program Officer at MSA. ​“We have found that means walking alongside entrepreneurs, acknowledging their unique challenges, and providing genuine support every step of the way. It’s the journey we take together, building equitable supportive networks that uplift every member of our community.”