Blogs

Rural America is home to 50 million people, occupies 75% of our space and is breadbasket to the world. And like urban communities, rural areas compete on a worldwide stage for jobs, economic growth and something above survival- aptly described as "quality of life". The 21st century and emerging...

Global business traditionally evolved from successful domestic ventures. Today, global strategies just might be the start of a business. Either way, risk management is a core issue. Since traders encountered one another on border paths, establishing trust and minimizing risk have...

STARTUP Jefferson County provides entrepreneurs and small business owners the tools to succeed November 13, 2017 By Elaine Craver JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ill. - We're all familiar with the phrase, "Necessity is the...

In my June 7, 2017 blog ILLINOIS - A LION In The INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE, I addressed the basics of how to get started in world markets. I now begin taking a deeper look at deta

This is another article from Susan Odum's BUY LOCAL series.  Susan is a Community & Economic Development Educator with U of I Extension "There are a lot of words one might use to describe Julie Kuppart, including energetic, adaptable, and passionate, but after spending an...

This article was written and contributed by Zachary Kennedy, Community & Economic Development Specialist, U of I Extension Many people think of "rural" as farmland, low population density, and open idyllic landscapes. To be certain, there are many ways to define rural, and...

A business plan states expectations, defines risks and explains how resources will be most effectively utilized.[i] My definition of a Business Plan...

I recently reviewed the 2016 Forbes' rankings of "Best Countries For Business" and pondered America's slide from the top spot in 2006 to number 24. The respected ...

Data for Decision Makers Resource Guide by Zach Kennedy, Extension Specialist Community and Economic Development Data, when used properly, can improve the effectiveness of your organization or local government. The ability to tell a "data story" is important to understanding the context in which...