SBDC Rural Business Program sponsors upcoming forum and conference

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SBDC Rural Business Program sponsors upcoming forum and conference

solarpanelswebThe SBDC Rural Business Program (RBP) will co-sponsor the West Texas Rural Small Business Forum on Tuesday, Jan. 25 in Fort Stockton, Texas.

Rural business owners are invited to join in the all day event consisting of a luncheon; an awards ceremony; exhibitors; networking opportunities; and local, statewide, and national speakers.

Amongst the speakers are Larry Ruggiano, Office of the Governor; Jack Stallings, Texas Department of Agriculture--Rural Economic Development Division; and economist, William H. Fruth whose speaking points will focus on the regional economy.

“This rural small business forum focuses on the current state of the Trans-Pecos regional economy and how it compares to the national economy,” said Russell Dempsey, RBP project manager.

“This is a turbulent time for small businesses where owners are not sure how much the recession has affected their region. This forum hopes to give small business owners clarification and present them with the tools for handling a slowly recovering economy,” he added.

Dempsey also advises that as a whole, rural communities are declining both in population and in capacity. He describes the trend as young adults leaving for college, but not returning because of the false perception that there is less opportunity in a rural community.

“With the decrease in population comes a decrease in technical skill sets, but hopefully through more education the trend will reverse itself and there will be an increase in capacity in these communities,” said Dempsey.

The SBDC Rural Business Program is one of 12 centers and programs located within UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development, and in support of the RBP’s mission to promote rural economic growth, rural small business forums are held throughout the year in various locations.

Last year, forums were held in Uvalde, Texas; Marble Falls, Texas; and San Angelo, Texas. Each forum is regional in aim, offering resources to meet the specific needs of a given community.

The RBP is also gearing up for the Texas Rural Challenge, a state-wide conference hosted by the Governor's Office, Texas Economic Development Council, TDA, USDA - Rural Development and the Texas Association of Regional Councils of Government, that will be held June 16 – 17 in San Marcos, Texas.

For more information, please contact the Big Bend Region Minority and Small Business Development Center at 432-837-8694.

— Cheryce Jackson, '09