Community Futures helps rural entrepreneurs thrive

By Joan Janzen

Community Futures Meridian Region plays a crucial role in business development. Lori Feeder, CEO, provided the details of what they have to offer.

“Our Entrepreneur with Disabilities program has a waiting list right now,” she said. “We are always loaning money to home-based businesses which are starting up or expanding.”

They also offer free training events open to businesses and social enterprises in the region. The classes cover a range of subjects, including business relationships, creating digital content, recruiting employees, and navigating a family business. Their goal is to give rural businesses the tools they need to compete in today’s market.

Their wide range of services includes business financing, which offers loans tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. These include start-up and expansion loans as well as booster loans, which are smaller amounts of capital needed to advance to the next level.

Entrepreneurs receive personalized business planning support and advisory services from professionals. These professionals can help set up accounting systems or assist with business registrations, among other things.

Entrepreneurs in rural areas face unique challenges, and that’s where Community Futures can help. Their mission is to foster economic resilience by helping businesses succeed, creating local jobs, and stimulating the local economy. They provide the tools, guidance, and resources necessary for entrepreneurs to overcome obstacles and thrive in today’s competitive environment.