Center for Rural Affairs Business Update

M i c r o B u s i n e s s S u p p o r t & I n f o r m at i o n E x c h a n g e | V o l . 2 5 , N o . 4 | w w w. C F R A . o r g / R E A P

C e n t e r f o r R u r a l A f f a i r s | Ly o n s , N E | P o p u l at i o n 8 5 1 | F A L L 2 0 1 6

RIGHT: Brittany Sage opened Cut It Out Salon in her hometown of Litchfield, Neb., with a REAP loan to get the business off the ground. REAP granted her a second loan to purchase the building. | Photo by Dena Beck

Salon Owner Goes TealB y D e n a B e c k , S e n i o r P r o j e c t L e a d e r a n d s o u t h c e n t r a l L o a n S p e c i a l i s t, d e n a b @ c f r a . o r g

During September, Britta-ny Sage promotes Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month at her business, Cut it Out Salon in downtown Litch-field, Neb., population 259.

She has lost loved ones to ovari-an cancer, so she adds teal streaks to hair, paints teal nails and talks about ovarian cancer.

Brittany always knew that she wanted to return to her hometown of Litchfield. And while attending school, she decided she wanted to have her own salon.

In April 2010, she graduated from Joseph’s College of Beauty in Kearney, and received her estheti-cian license from Xenon Academy

local Food Trucks Dish Out a RumbleB y R h e a L a n d h o l m , B r a n d M a r k e t i n g a n d C o m m u n i c at i o n s M A n a g e r , r h e a l @ c f r a . o r g

Tacos vs. smoked ribs. Fro-zen treats vs. salads.

Hundreds flocked to downtown Norfolk, Neb., on a warm Friday evening in late July for a taste of local

food and local music.The focus? Food Truck Rumble.The goal? Sample until you were

stuffed, then vote on your favorite cuisine. At least, that’s what our goal was.

Seven food trucks, each an

individual small business from the area, competed in the rumble. And, some of the businesses have worked with the Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Assis-tance Project (REAP).

The business? Food trucks are new in Nebraska and are regulated under the Nebraska Department of Agriculture through the Food and Dairies Division. Food trucks get inspected even more than restau-rants; inspectors visit when they

go to county fairs or celebrations. Juan Sandoval, REAP’s Latino

Business Director, is also a mem-ber of the Norfolk Area Small Busi-ness Resource Team. He had seen a similar food truck competition in Grand Island, and thought the event would fit Norfolk.

“While we can compare the size of both cities, the opportunity to provide exposure among city

—See Food Truck Rumble on page 3

—See Salon Owner on page 2

2 • REAP Business Update • Fall 2016

The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) Women’s Business Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily re-flect the views of the SBA.

REAP, the Women’s Business Center and the Latino Business Center are programs of the Cen-ter for Rural Affairs. The Center for Rural Affairs is a private, nonprofit organization.

All SBA funded programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and/or persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) will be made if requested in advance.

you see that drives you to click “add to cart” isn’t so great after you check out and have to pay shipping. Not to mention having to wait for the item to arrive. Depending on what type of purchase it was, you may not even like what you bought. When you shop at a local retailer, you know what you are buying. And in some cases, even who you are buying from. Your pur-chase will include sales tax, but those taxes are put to good use. (Sales tax is also due for online purchas-es in Nebraska, however most retailers do not itemize that part of the transaction.)

2. That small business owner you just supported is creating jobs and paying local taxes that help with infrastructure. Often, local business owners will be the first people in your community to throw down sponsorship bucks for community events like a 5K fun run or local celebration, and they also donate to charities in your town.

In addition to Small Business Saturday that hap-pens on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, did you know that November through Dec. 24, 2016, has been designated “Shop 4 Nebraska”? This is a new campaign presented by the Nebraska Retail Associa-tion and GROW Nebraska to drive in-store shopping.

So this shopping season, I will be getting on my feet and into small businesses when I’m searching

for gifts for my friends and family. I know I will find something unique. By supporting a local business, I’m making a difference with a big impact in our own communities – that’s what I call value.

Will you join me this season in shopping on your main street? This type of shopping is more active – not only because our dollars will go further, but also because strolling around those different shops has health benefits!

When small businesses thrive because of your support, everyone wins!

Salon Owner, continued from page 1

Shop Small, continued from page 8

in Grand Island in March 2011. The esthetician license allows her to offer skin care services such as waxing, facials, ear candling, hot stone treatment and more.

In spring 2011, she reached out to her local bank to open her own business. Bank staff sent her to the Center’s Rural Enterprise

Assistance Project (REAP) for a possible loan and the technical as-sistance and support that comes with REAP loans.

Brittany worked with loan spe-cialist Dena Beck and was granted her first REAP loan in June 2011. She started her own business at the age of 21. The loan got her set up with equipment, inventory and working capital to get her busi-ness off the ground.

In September 2011, she had the opportunity to purchase the building that housed her busi-ness in downtown Litchfield. She returned to REAP and was grant-ed a loan for business real estate through Rural Microenterprise Assistance Act funds.

“REAP helped me by offering financing, support and the Busi-ness Plan Basics class,” Brittany said. She took the class in Broken Bow, co-sponsored by the REAP Women’s Business Center, the Broken Bow Chamber, Custer Economic Development and Bro-

ken Bow Public Library.Over the years, the business

owner has added more services in-cluding pedicures, gel manicures and more. Since 2012, she has offered toenail care to the elderly people who visit the Ravenna Se-nior Center. She likes to get out of the salon and connect with older people.

Brittany recently attended Paul Mitchell’s annual gathering in Las Vegas with stylists from all over the world. She learned about expanded business opportunities, new hairstyles and innovative products. She enjoyed the energy of the event and connecting with other stylists.

In the future, she hopes to be-come an educator in the field and bring in another stylist.

“I have enjoyed working with Brittany and admire her maturity and drive,” Dena said. “I feel like I have watched her grow up these last few years.”

Nancy Flock urges you to join her in shopping main street business-es this holiday season. | Photo by Center for Rural Affairs

Fall 2016 • REAP Business Update • 3

First National Bank invests $500,000 in lendingB y E l i s h a S m i t h , C e n t e r f o r R u r a l A f f a i r s

residents made this idea extremely attractive,” Juan said. “We want to promote the trucks and highlight their food. They seem to be the best secret in town and some don’t know about them.”

A n d N o w F o r T h e R u m b l eWith a ticket, individuals were

able to visit all seven food trucks for a feature item.

We picked up barbecue at Uncle Jarrol’s Pub-B-Que, a frozen man-go dessert at The Ice Shack, and authentic tacos at La Cocina del Mariachi before we were full, and didn’t dare try any more.

Others were Taqueria Gonzalez, WolfenDitters, Taqueria Don Nico and Taylormade Catering.

When done sampling, people voted for their favorite truck.

This was the first ever event, and it brought out crowds that surpassed organizers’ expecta-tions. Approximately 350 tickets were sold, and around 200 people were turned away.

“We were expecting a smaller crowd and I believe the food truck owners were thinking like us,” Juan said. “We were concerned

about the food trucks’ capacity since they don’t have large refrig-erators or a place to keep a lot of food.”

At the end of the day, Wolfen-Ditters came out victorious. The winning truck is owned by Adam Wolfe and Brent Ditter, and they feature barbecue cuisine.

G r e at f o r S m a l l B u s i n e s s , R u r a l C o m m u n i t y

Juan said organizers received positive feedback.

“Food truck owners were ex-tremely grateful,” Juan said.

“Some of the restaurants in Nor-folk’s downtown were so busy they had to stay open after hours.”

Food trucks were also able to sell menu items. One food truck owner said they did better at this event than at the largest event in Norfolk.

And the ticket holders were happy.

“People had a great attitude about the event,” Juan said. “Peo-ple wanted to have a great expe-rience and we were able to pro-vide an event that was fun in our community.”

Taqueria Gonzalez is just one of seven food trucks that converged onto downtown Norfolk, Neb., for a rumble. Each truck represents an individual small business - some have worked with our Rural Enterprise Assistance Project. | Photo by Rhea Landholm

Food Truck Rumble, continued from page 1

First National Bank recently provided a $500,000 equity-equivalent investment to the Center for Rural Affairs. The investment will support micro and small business lending activities throughout rural communities in Nebraska via the Center’s lending arm, the

Rural Investment Corporation.The funds will be used to provide financing and

technical assistance in support of community devel-opment, including small business startup, expan-sion and job creation. The funds will also be used to improve access to services and ownership opportu-nities, especially for low-income or otherwise disad-vantaged individuals.

“The demand for small business financing in rural Nebraska is extremely high,” said Jeff Reynolds,

Center for Rural Affairs Rural Enterprise Assistance Project director and Rural Investment Corporation chief operating officer. “We look forward to getting these critical small business loan dollars out to startup and existing businesses and continuing our mission of creating vibrant rural communities through small business development.”

Alec Gorynski, of First National Bank, said the investment reflects the bank’s commitment to strengthen the local economies in all the communi-ties they serve.

“It is extremely important to us that rural com-munities continue to thrive and we believe they will through new and expanded businesses, an adequate job supply and access to a variety of local services,” he said.

Questions?

Strengthening rural communit ies through small , self-employed bus iness development.

Center for Rural Affairs

Contact one of our helpful staff below!

R u r a l E n t e r p r i s e A s s i s ta n c e P r o j e c t1 4 5 M a i n S t r e e t, P O B o x 1 3 6 | Ly o n s , N E 6 8 0 3 8 - 0 1 3 6

c f r a . o r g | i n f o @ c f r a . o r g

Address Service Requested Fall 2016

Jeff Reynolds, REAP Program Director,jeffr@cfra.org.

Monica Braun, Women’s Business Center Director, monicab@cfra.org.

Juan Sandoval, Latino Business Center Director, juans@cfra.org.

Dena Beck, Senior Project Leader & South Central Loan Specialist, denab@cfra.org.

Gene Rahn, Northeast/Central Senior Loan Specialist, gener@cfra.org.

Jerry Terwilliger, Panhandle Loan Specialist, jerryt@cfra.org.

Janelle Moran, Southeast Loan Specialist, janellem@cfra.org.

Nancy Flock, Southwest Loan Specialist, nancyf@cfra.org.

Griselda Rendon, Latino Loan Specialist, griseldar@cfra.org.

Kim Preston, REAP Administrative Assistant,kimp@cfra.org.

slowing down to shop small this seasonB y N a n c y F l o c k , S e n i o r P r o j e c t L e a d e r a n d s o u t h c e n t r a l L o a n S p e c i a l i s t, n a n c y f @ c f r a . o r g

As a Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) loan specialist, I’ve had the opportunity to serve many hardworking en-trepreneurs. So I know

firsthand the importance of sup-porting small businesses when-ever possible. But sometimes, knowledge alone is not enough for us to act on.

I recently attended the North Platte, Neb., Shop Local Kickoff event, which featured state and local proclamations highlight-ing the importance of shopping our local brick and mortar retail stores. The event really made me think about how I will be doing my holiday shopping this year.

I’ll have to be the first to admit that shopping is not one of my

favorite activities. But this time of year, it’s something almost all of us feel an obligation to do, re-gardless of how we feel about it.

Therefore, I’m going to chal-lenge myself to make local pur-chases and encourage everyone else to do the same. I say chal-lenge because I get it – it’s often faster and less expensive to go online. But that route wastes our power to use our purchases to make a difference in our commu-nities and hometowns.

Here are a couple of good reasons to get off of the web and into the local stores of whichever community you live in:

1. Going online is not always the best deal. Usually, the price

—See Shop Small on page 2