Midlands Voices: Encourage economic potential of rural entrepreneurs

The writer is executive director of Valley County Economic Development and the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce.

Kyle Rosfeld of Valentine exemplifies rural Nebraska's greatest strength. The determination, innovation, work ethic and vision that he and thousands of other rural Nebraska entrepreneurs possess can help lead Nebraska out of recession and into a bright economic future, if we give them the opportunity.

History teaches us that small businesses frequently recover from recession earlier than larger businesses and industry, adding jobs to the economy while larger firms are holding on or still laying off — as was the case in the 2001-02 recession.

Rosfeld opened his new business, the Sandhills Boot Company, in Valentine after leaving ranching in 2000. He began his business on a shoestring budget and, with assistance from the Center for Rural Affairs and GROW Nebraska, his business has grown steadily.

The development of entrepreneurial businesses like Rosfeld's can serve rural communities better than many traditional models of economic development. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City states, “Rural policy-makers, who once followed traditional strategies of recruiting manufacturers that export low-value products, have begun to realize that entrepreneurs can generate new economic value for their communities. Entrepreneurs add jobs, raise incomes, create wealth, improve the quality of life of citizens and help rural communities operate in the global economy.”

Self-employment and small business are also the job creators in rural Nebraska. Throughout the rural Great Plains, nearly 70 percent of recent job growth came from nonfarm proprietorships — in other words, people creating a job for themselves and perhaps a handful of others by starting their own small business.

Entrepreneurial development can and should be an important tool in revitalizing Nebraska's economy, particularly in our rural communities. In fact, I'm sure this was precisely what former Congressman Tom Osborne had in mind when he co-sponsored the House of Representatives resolution that established the National Entrepreneurship Week celebration as the last week in February of each year — Feb. 20-27 this year.

National Entrepreneurship Week provides an opportunity to focus on the innovative ways in which entrepreneurial development and entrepreneurship education can create a better economic future, especially during these difficult times.

There are a number of ways to celebrate entrepreneurship that week. I, for one, intend to be front and center as some 500 farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, economic developers, civic leaders and service providers from rural Nebraska and surrounding states gather in Kearney. There, they will celebrate entrepreneurship, learn from one another and challenge each other to continue creating jobs and economic opportunities in our rural communities when the Center for Rural Affairs hosts its fourth annual Marketplace for Entrepreneurs.

That event will be held on Feb. 23 and 24 at the Ramada Convention Center in Kearney (www.cfra.org/marketplace/home), and I'll wager that if you've been there before, you don't need me to tell you why going back is a good idea.

This year will be Kyle Rosfeld's fourth year attending Marketplace, which he credits with improving his bottom line by helping him understand several aspects of small business and marketing.

National Entrepreneurship Week and Marketplace were both founded on the premise that the main streets and country roads of rural Nebraska can and should be a wellspring of economic strength and vitality for our state and beyond.

For a couple of days in late February, some of rural Nebraska's most visionary leaders will gather in Kearney and share their knowledge, expertise and inspirational stories. It promises to be a sight to behold.

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