Across the country, small towns and rural regions are finding creative ways to spark economic growth, fill empty spaces, and support the next generation of entrepreneurs. In September 2025, the NADO Research Foundation hosted a three-part webinar series that offered practical, proven strategies you can put to work immediately, whether it’s reactivating vacant buildings, launching innovative low-cost business models, or building a self-sustaining network of entrepreneurs who mentor and support one another.
Organized through the Economic Development District Community of Practice (EDD CoP) and facilitated by Deb Brown, cofounder of SaveYour.Town, this series included real-world examples, actionable tools, and fresh ideas for EDD staff and partners looking to make a lasting impact in their regions. The webinar recordings and presentation slides are available below.
For more information about this webinar series and the EDD CoP, contact Brett Schwartz at [email protected].
Empty buildings can feel like a setback, but they’re also an opportunity waiting to be unlocked. This session shares creative, proven strategies for bringing vacant spaces back to life that range from quick “meanwhile” uses to long-term redevelopment plans. You’ll learn how to find funding, navigate ownership or regulatory challenges, and build partnerships that make revitalization possible. You’ll leave this webinar ready to turn empty spaces into active, inspiring parts of your community!
Entrepreneurs in rural areas are finding new ways to succeed through flexible, low-cost business models like pop-ups, shared retail spaces, and “businesses-within-businesses.” In this session, you’ll see how these creative approaches are lowering barriers for new business owners, creating collaborative environments, and making main streets more vibrant. You’ll get practical tips for adapting these ideas to your town, testing business concepts affordably, and building a diverse local economy where more entrepreneurs can thrive.
Some of the best support for entrepreneurs comes from other entrepreneurs. This session introduces a simple model for identifying local business owners and will share what motivates experienced entrepreneurs to help others, how to connect them with emerging talent, and how to integrate this approach into existing programs. The result is a self-sustaining network that accelerates growth, fosters collaboration, and strengthens a community’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
This webinar series is offered through the NADO Research Foundation’s Economic Development District Community of Practice (EDD CoP). The EDD CoP is made possible through an award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (ED22HDQ3070106). The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the presenters and participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.