Rural Voice: Who owns Main Street?
Coming up at 9 a.m. on Thursday
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Do local businesses still own Main Street in Minnesota’s rural communities? Or are national chains and large corporations changing the fabric of what it means to be a small town?
That’s the question MPR News host Kerri Miller posed during her most recent Rural Voice town hall in southern Minnesota.
Coming up at 9 a.m. on Thursday, listen to a recording of that discussion, held Sept. 28 at The Broadway event center in downtown Albert Lea, Minn.
Business owners and community leaders agreed that keeping local businesses local is key to maintaining small town feel and charm. But doing that is no small feat.
Business owners say they work long hours, money is always tight and even if the business is a success, figuring out how to grow sustainably is a challenge.
Organizations designed to support local businesses, like the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, say it’s a story they hear a lot. They pointed to the critical role community support and innovative financing models play in sustaining rural businesses.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
