Why Did You Create The Rural Spark?

It was time my friends!

It was time to pull my years of knowledge and experience as a rural economic developer out of my head and put it into a format that could help other rural practitioners. The Rural Spark will be an online space to encourage, educate, and network with other rural economic developers.

My hope is to empower a new generation to lead their communities and lead strong. My motivation was the realization that many of my friends and colleagues had left this profession all together. The reasons are many, but the reality is that it has left our communities ill-equipped and some will be left behind. 

Now is our time to shine. The pandemic created a shift. People are coming back to rural communities. They are buying homes, starting businesses, retiring, putting kids into our schools. Now more than ever, we need strong economic development professionals and programs.

There is a lot to know in economic development. It was difficult to find the perfect starting place. So, I created the course I wish I had when I first started in this profession. It is perfect for those who are working solo, have no one to train them, and who are tired of reinventing the wheel with every project.  

The Rural Spark Jumpstart Course will help set a strong foundation for any program. It includes resources that anyone can utilize and build upon. Inside the course, we will also talk a lot about mindset and how to confidently overcome the hard things that come with serving the public. The course will help practitioners get unstuck, gain clarity, and propel projects. It will fast-track you professionally and save you a lot of time and energy.

I am hosting a live webinar on May 6^th at 10 am (CST) to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the course and ask questions. I would love to have you join me!

The course is priced very budget friendly, but I’m also giving you a chance to earn it for free. So, don’t miss the webinar for those details.

I would love your support as I tackle a new endeavor. Would you share this with other economic development associates and join me on LinkedIn.

Also, if you aren’t on Clubhouse yet, I encourage you to join us every Wednesday at 11:05 a.m. (CST) in the economic development room to talk and listen to other economic developers around America and Canada. It is highly educational, and the networking is amazing. (You can find me @jimicoplen on clubhouse.)