Nevada Central Media wants to see rural business thrive.
The steady migration to metro areas has put a strain on many rural communities, making the dream of a sustainable rural lifestyle difficult to obtain. Our cities have become so big that we have lost a sense of community and belonging that is inherent in a rural setting. In fact, it seems that metros are recognizing this and trying to make urban areas more community oriented. Las Vegas’ downtown revitalization project is one of many throughout the country.
We believe the same type of energy should be put into strengthening rural areas and rural business. We love open spaces, no traffic jams, Friday night ball games, smaller schools and green pasture.
Just because a community is small, doesn’t mean it should be weak in business. The advent of high-speed Internet creates new opportunities that can potentially strengthen rural business. Any kind of job that exclusively requires a computer and phone can be done from anywhere. Face-to-face meetings can be conducted via video conferencing. Additionally, retailers can ship their products from anywhere to anywhere.
Nevada Central Media is proof that a new business can be developed with headquarters in a rural area. We set up shop in a valley with a population around 1,000. We have many local clients but also work with organizations hundreds of miles away.
Our most recent efforts in promoting rural business have revolved around the publications LCCentral.com and Lincoln County Magazine (look at the bottom-right section of website). These were designed to help “rally the troops” by creating a centralized hub for communication. Our recent merger with the local newspaper helped speed up that process. Local businesses now have access to integrated media platforms they can leverage to get their messages out there.
Now we are exploring the right opportunities for new business ventures in the area. We are currently conducting a survey with Alamo residents to consider the viability of a electronics/office supplies/computer repair store in town. So far, responses have been positive, but the question is whether such a store could receive enough customer volume to pay the bills, create a job or two and make a profit.
Most community members would need to show support through buying their printer ink and other supplies at the local store, rather than just getting it during their next “Wally World” trip or online. It would take finding suppliers that could get us inventory at a low enough price to be competitive. Of course, there is also the possibility of selling our own inventory online to a worldwide audience, though there is a ton of competition in that arena.
When considering these hurdles, the thought “There’s gotta be a way!” keeps coming back. And when it’s in the name of strengthening our rural communities, there is no doubt that it is worth it.