~by Heather Strohm, Purdue Extension Regional Educator, and Community Development – Purdue University In the midst of the pandemic, economic environments have shifted significantly. Competitiveness has increased tenfold, businesses are examining how to gain market share as storefronts become ghost towns, and e-commerce activity gains momentum. Striving to keep innovation and modern technology within a …

~by Heather Strohm, Purdue Extension Regional Educator History has a way of repeating itself. Within the world of fashion, mullets have reappeared in adolescents. Men are wearing shorter, tighter shorts as they did in the Magic Johnson era. Home decorating trends and business practices are following the same patterns. Just as the clock ticks along, …

On April 30, when Lt. Governor Crouch announced that 61 communities had received COVID-19 response funds, Blackford County was among them because of the organizing efforts of Community Development Extension. Educator Cheri Brown, new to her 50% CD appointment as of January 2020, convened the meeting with local elected officials, helped to gather the information/specifics …

~by Heather Strohm, Purdue Extension Regional Educator Since the COVID-19 crisis began, companies and communities have been running extremely lean on virtually every front, especially in the human resources department. While internet searches have traditionally centered around “manager training” and “leadership development,” Google Analytics indicates a declining trend of interest in these keywords. These terms …

This article contains a list of resources for Indiana small businesses to support economic retention and recovery related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. It will be regularly updated to include the latest information and resources as they are made available. Business Counseling (No-Cost) Small Business Administration:  The SBA works with a number of local partners to …

As globalization continues to chug along and the digital age continues to take hold, communities in Indiana need to adapt in order to remain competitive. Remaining competitive however, is easier said than done. While adequate broadband infrastructure, an entrepreneurship ecosystem, a knowledge workforce, adequate housing, and access to capital remain key ingredients for this competitiveness, …

Purdue Extension Community Development (CD) and the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) is ecstatic to announce the release of our Digital Ready Businesses (DRB) app (only for Android devices; iOS coming soon)! This app is geared towards small businesses and entrepreneurs looking to improve their online presence by providing classes in the form of …

Workforce development – a commonly tossed around buzz word – but what exactly is it and what does it look like here in Indiana? For nine months, four former and current Extension educators each spent over 150 hours deeply embedded in learning about workforce development, its challenges and opportunities for improvement. In this post, I’m …

Written by Emily Del Real, Cheyanne Geideman and Roberto Gallardo Background Earlier this year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center published a report commissioned by Amazon looking at the digital potential of rural businesses. What it found was shocking: if rural businesses were to unleash their digital potential, they would add more than …

So often my travels leave me weaving alongside desolate country roads that are sparsely populated and towns that are blighted with empty, dusty storefronts. Signs that at one time proudly said “Open” now dangled by a single chain, the storefront pleading for its life for any low rent tenant that might re-inhabit, for even a …