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Come join us, explore the impact of small business here in rural Arkansas.

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What challenges would you face? Who can help you meet those challenges? How do you get in touch with others like you?

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This is Create Bridges, Arkansas. And we invite you to come cross these bridges with us.

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Welcome to another episode of the Creat Bridges, Small Business, Big rural Impact.

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With me today is Keisha McKinney of McKinney Media Solutions, where she supports small businesses with our Digital Media Solutions,

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Keisha from the three CS, which, as you know, I'm from Ozarks Hills.

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But we're really excited to be able to have the three CS on the Ozark foothills side of the episode.

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Just to get an understanding of how things look from their perspective,

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but also to really explore how rural businesses in Arkansas kind of share some of their same challenges.

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And so, Keisha, thank you so much for coming with us today. Thanks for inviting me on.

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I agree. I'm excited about talking the bridge between the two areas and what we've learned together and learn from each other.

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Well, that brings me to the fact that you have actually been a part of create bridges for a while now.

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You're actually a regional steering committee member for the three C's and just kind

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of wanted to find out a little bit more about your involvement with Creat bridges.

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And actually, why did you. I'm sure you've got a busy schedule. Why did you decide to participate in this?

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Yeah. So somewhere along the way, I wish I could give you a really good date.

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I sat at a table and said yes to helping with some local economic development efforts here in severe county.

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And with that kind of morphed into a volunteer role helping lead to tourism efforts.

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And that's not been a formal role in this community. The Chamber of Commerce has had some things they do.

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A newly formed economic development area had some things that they do.

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And then, of course, tourism was part of a lot of different people's interests or maybe a few responsibilities in town,

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but had never been kind of a formal entity. And so coming out of some economic development efforts about three years ago was this discussion.

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And one of the effort areas that kind of came up out of some community conversations was tourism among eight or nine other things.

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So I just said, yes, I was a table captain at a conversation in the community.

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Isn't that what happens? You just say yes. And then suddenly, three years later, you're at a Creat Bridges Regional Steering Committee role.

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But when the opportunity came in a few years ago for the create bridges to apply for those grants,

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I was just part of someone who wrote a recommendation letter about things in our community and we were trying to do with the group that was applying.

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And then when we received it alongside you guys, I was just kind of somebody who came to those first conversations.

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And then as more formal things developed, like an official regional steering committee,

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I frankly probably gave one too many opinions and they were like, come on.

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So that's kind of how it formed. Well, you know, especially in rural communities.

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I mean, it is one of the if we see someone who is participating or is willing to talk about it or more importantly,

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who is really willing to throw up their sleeves and really get into it, we're going to grab you.

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We're saying, come on, because we need we need that enthusiasm and that support.

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I think that's oftentimes what businesses are lacking is usually like they're supported by their community members.

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And so and you own your own small business also. So you understand from that perspective, but more importantly,

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being able to let you know some of the small businesses that maybe don't have the time to be able to,

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you know, sit at a table and really dove into it the way that you have.

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You can tell them that, hey, I understand what you're feeling. I'm bringing to the table what you're experiencing.

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And believe me, we are trying to find solutions that will help, you know, the problems of our specific area.

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And I think that's really what makes Creat bridges.

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So interesting is that because we have the three C's and the Ozarks foothills kind of identified as their own regions,

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even among ourselves, there are differences that you have identified as a strategic needs to solve.

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Then what Ozark foothills has decided it was important to solve.

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And so because of that Create Bridges, really does focus on the needs at ground level, and I think that's important.

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That someone who maybe isnt as familiar with us. And what we're going through is dictating what solutions should be should be had.

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So Keisha you be being part of a process that is certainly valuable. And with that.

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Are you seeing that kind of impact that that just might be having?

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Specifically to the three C's, because it is so focused on a specific region.

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Yeah, well, I think one of the great things that Creat bridges brought for us to our community in this process is a neutrality as a agency,

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if you will. And then also the backing of the name and all that comes with a grant.

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So for us, I mean, in my perspective, that's the two big things that I think have been such a great advantage is.

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They are, you know, with the extension agency office and the grant funders that just helped establish a rapport that just naturally came with that.

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So it helped honestly just kind of blow some wind in the sails of things we were wanting to get done here.

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But it gave us a focus. And even before we built specific strategies that we were chasing and trying to accomplish,

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it helped us just establish just again with that report that was already built in.

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And a neutral party. I also I didn't grow up here.

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We were kind of transplanted here for my husband's job. And so I brought some outside perspectives just naturally, frankly, to any conversation.

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But what what a group. So we were leaving and doing some things with tourism that we wanted to get done.

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Or we may be talking around the table with the committee and bringing the chamber in, bringing economic development folks in.

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But when something like the Create Bridges Grant program showed up, it gave us just a focus like, OK,

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well, with them, they they have to focus on even more specific areas within this niche of tourism.

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And so it's just like, OK. It helped us prioritize what we wanted to work on, what we could work on.

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Let them win some grant money, help us accomplish some of those things. The question marks that we're sitting in front of us.

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And so so giving us focus, they're their neutral role of just saying, OK, let's let's get these things done.

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And for me, that's probably been the biggest advantage.

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And then I will say side by side with that, we are able to be free to accomplish what we need to down here in the three C's area.

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And we are not just dictated by like, oh, OK, well, everyone in this Create Bridges program and all the states.

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This is what they're doing. So this is what everyone has to do.

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So I've really appreciated that process of giving time to listen to business owners through some of the surveys and interviews and things like that.

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But then turn that around to say, OK, great. Well, here's what we heard consistently.

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So this is how we're gonna focus and have the, you know,

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the time and the support that comes with the Create Bridges process, but not be dictated to what we have to accomplish.

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You know, you brought up a good point about hearing from the businesses, you know, the early on in the process.

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And phase one of Create Bridges, of course, as you know,

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we we had that the surveys out the businesses as well as to the workforce about what is it that is going to help make this process successful.

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How do we make the businesses in the four sectors really grow and thrive?

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And and so that we email the workforce training, which we now call create lift.

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And I know that you have created content as part of that.

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And so I wanted to talk about, you know, the content, you personally really what you think the value of the workforce training will be to our,

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you know, the folks that are go through it, but also the businesses that send their employees through it and then also just.

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Could this be a model, perhaps, for other rural communities as they are exploring how do we develop our workforce?

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Because that part of the conversation seems to be commonplace.

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It doesn't matter. I know Ozark Foothills talks about that all the time. I know that definitely came out of your surveys and three.

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And I know that other communities. This is a common problem.

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So how will create lift, help perhaps the, you know,

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maybe an example or something that other communities can think about as they're developing their own programs?

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I think, you know, the biggest thing is just going to be the content. So again, with the partnership we heard needs in both areas.

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But we're gonna be able to take advantage of the resources and talent that you have in Ozark foothills and vice versa.

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You know, we're one of the things that Drew together and where the three C's stance is our connection with you was UA Cosatot.

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And so we're able to leverage some of that community college talent, the professors and all of those.

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Much like the talent that you have there with innovation hub. And so I think just listening and saying consistently, these are the things we need.

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These are the things we need. Then we said, OK, there's not really a guess anymore of what should the court, the content be?

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What should the courses be about? We heard specific needs and requests.

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And so using that and the continuing education program, leadership at these colleges and the innovation hub,

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we were then able to build that, course, descriptions and put the content together.

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One of the other great things I'm super excited about and passionate about, frankly,

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with with the three CS area, we have a very high Hispanic Latino business ownership.

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And that is it's a big thing that we have focused on down here in the last really couple of years,

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making sure that they have access to the same resources,

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making sure they know about the resources that different agencies across the state have offered.

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And so we were also with Lift able to translate these courses into Spanish so that by latino business owners and and

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non Latino speaking business owners can still have the same exact content being presented to them and access.

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So that a huge thing for me. I'm super pumped about with Lyft. And I think you talk about demonstrative for other communities.

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We've got to pay attention to the makeup of our business owners and we've got to listen to their needs.

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And for us, two years ago, that came out as a very big desire.

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We want to grow. We want to expand. We just don't know what we have access to.

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So that was a really big thing. I think for those going through it, honestly, as a lifelong learner myself,

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I think it's going to be super important for employers to send their employees, encourage their employees to go through this.

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You know in our small communities, we don't always have a ton of professional jobs.

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And so not being part of corporate programs always or big major corporations that are nationwide or state statewide.

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We don't always have access. And so one of the things we heard back in those employee surveys was they want advancement opportunity.

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Well, they may not get that within their organization, but one of the greatest things a company can do is be part of someone's professional story.

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And so I think like when I listen in here, man,

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this is such a great opportunity that employers will have as a benefit to invest in their employees, really not costing them a dime.

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It may cost them time, like, but they're gonna you know,

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there's no reason that during a downtime of a daily cycle that someone could step out to a break room

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or step step back to a conference room and sit and consume this couple of people together or one person,

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one on one. I really think that's gonna be a huge investment that employers will have.

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And then as employers, many of the topics will benefit them as a small business owner.

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And so, again, they're not having to leave their office. I mean, with the way it's going to be, it's all digital.

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We used the thing we've learned this past year and we're really taking advantage of technology.

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And so, you know where it was, hey, closed on your shop or make sure you get someone to back you up or, you know, whatever.

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Business owners don't have to do that so they can stay in the comfort of their store.

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They can posit when when a customer walks in, if they're sitting behind the counter at a boutique or they're,

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you know, obviously the front line at a fast food restaurant isn't going to be able to do that.

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But again, they could break it out.

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So I just think really leveraging the power of the talent and using that to pay attention to what we've learned from this past year.

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Just going to give people an advantage. And again, I think especially with the digital tools that we have, we can not be, frankly,

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so consumed with ourselves that we think, oh, there's nothing more for me to learn. There's so much because it always changes.

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You know, there's always something more for us to learn. And so I think to me that those are two of the advantages is giving.

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Employers, a free, quote, free benefit that they can do to invest in their and their employees and their talent.

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But as individual team members, to gain that certification and be able to walk away,

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when you go to an interview later and the next job in your be able to say that

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you've had the certification and here's what you've learned in that process. It's just a really great advantage.

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No know, I love listening to you because you are as passionate about this as I am.

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And I sometimes and I know the Brandon and Muriel are, you know, my other program coordinator cohorts are just as passionate.

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And it's not. And I will say that the RNC has always been very participative and supportive and the things that we do.

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But you say you are you're like on our level. Let's get this done.

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And so, yes, I'm super excited about that. And I just want to remind folks.

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So they're creat bridges, workforce training. We call create lift the creative part.

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But Lyft is the leading innovation through workforce training, which again,

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as you mentioned, I so excited that it's going to be both in English and in Spanish.

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Our Ozark foothills programs that are being developed, we're getting it translated through the three CS to continue that kind of inclusion.

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And so I'm excited that we will have some Spanish content also now.

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And I think I told you earlier, Keisha that I, you know, stopped you a little bit to learn a little bit more about you.

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And so one of the things I discovered is that you are you know, or you have an organization called Arkansas Influencers.

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And from what I can tell, it's a lot about storytelling. And, you know, just sharing stories.

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And so I am actually very honored that you have spoken about our podcast and had some things to say about it,

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because as a person with great experience with storytelling,

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I just wanted to know your thoughts about why people should take the time to download the create bridges podcast and then 20 to 35 minutes with myself,

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Muriell or Brandon. Yeah. I have I have really enjoyed listening to the previous episodes leading up to today.

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And one of the things I think that whether it's a small business owner or just someone who has a hobby, I love stories.

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That is definitely something that drives me.

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But I think when I listen to the story of how a barbecue restaurant in Ashdown used model of business that they already had going,

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which was heavily built on social media and drive up traffic and never lost anything

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during what happened a year ago in the first first few weeks of the covid and pandemic.

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And their business actually grew because our business model was set there.

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And so if I am a boutique owner on the square looking at the courthouse, I think man will do.

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I shifted do. How do I listen to what he did to interact with his followers or to create a Instagram campaign or to

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change the setting outside the front window where he's not doing as much interaction face to face,

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but he's got a space for someone to come and safely come experience and continue to grow its business.

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Or I look at what Mark Haring did with the with the craft mall.

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And just like having having just the entrepreneurial spirit to just be like, hey, I'll buy this tool.

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I know out of nowhere, really, frankly. Like, not even super soliciting something.

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A huge opportunity comes about for him. So I'm listening to that as a as an entrepreneurial spirit.

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And I'm going, OK. What I'm hearing is he was just ready, like he was ready, like he did.

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He just kind of lived in a cadence of just being ready for things to come.

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Or the rodeo guys or I mean, there's just like so many things that can just I think when you listen to someone tell their own story.

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One of the things I like to do is to say, OK, where would that fit on me or where would I fit into that?

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And if I'm going to frankly spend the time consuming something for me, it's like, again, always learning what can I listen?

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What can I hear in this I think as people listen to this podcast.

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I mean, it is written small business, but big role impact.

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And frankly, outside of about three areas, we're not a huge metro place.

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I mean, I grew up in Dallas, but I came to South Arkansas to college and I have never gone back.

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And so I've been I've been here 20 years.

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And so I think I've begun to see that really the story of this state is small businesses that do great things every single day.

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And whether that is a chili pepper sauce or a cutting board or necklaces that are hand stamped

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and clothing that's made or taking advantage of rice and soy and like the things that are.

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The story of this state, man, I think we can listen and go where where do I fit into that?

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And one of the things I like to in my training with media is I talk to people about like who is their audience?

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I call it a persona. Some marketing people call it the hero. But but I think when we begin to understand why people buy things from people.

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And so it's not just another walk through the aisle. Grab this item.

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Grab this item. I go show up on my town square and buy a bracelet from a person because I know her.

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I know her story. I know she's a mom and she's fighting for her family and she's hand stamping jewelry and her personal touches on that.

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Well, that's a gift. I want to give to all kinds of people or a lady in our town who grinds her own cornbread,

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a corn meal to make cornbread and has been for like 30 years.

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But she's this beautiful entrepreneurial soul.

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And when I make that cornbread, I think about Miss Roxy just as much as I went and bought Jiffy off a shelf at a regular grocery store.

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So I think for me, that's what's really special about this,

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is as we listen in any town across our states has people like you guys have been talking to and and they can see themselves in those stories.

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You know, as you were speaking, Keisha, I kept thinking was we're celebrating businesses and we're celebrating people.

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And really that's that's all. You know, we we hope that the podcast to do is to be inspirational.

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But also, if someone was looking at coming to rural Arkansas and trying to decide, you know,

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what are the businesses like or what's the environment going to be like, or should I open a business?

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This gives perspective because it is different than coming from Dallas or, you know,

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me from Phenix and and just kind of having that awareness of what is going to be like.

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But as you can as you have done, we celebrate our businesses because they're our neighbors.

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They're the people that we see. And they're not just a they're not just the box.

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They are actually the owners that are the proprietors.

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They mean something to us. And so I really appreciate you sharing that podcast.

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And I know that Brandon and Murriel have worked just as hard with me to make sure that there are.

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Yes. Understood that we are celebrating them. And so we're celebrating you, too.

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We appreciate you so much, because without the you know, we it's hard for any of us, you know, in rural communities to be able to move forward.

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And I mean, we we can't be left behind or else money's expenditures.

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Those go to other places because they're bigger and they make more noise.

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And it's our job to make sure that people don't forget that we are an important

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part to the economy and we are an important part to the Arkansas economy.

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And so we just we just need to lift each other out then and make sure that we make everyone as successful as they can or give them the tools,

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I should say. I mean. Yeah. And be successful. So with all that.

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Is there anything else about create bridges or create lift or about, you know, just this process that I've not touched on?

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I think one of my favorite quotes and really it drives much of the things I do in my life is think is attributed to Mother Teresa,

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but it's be the change you wish to see in the world. And so, you know, we started this by saying, how did you get to this place?

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I said, yes, but as I learned more then I became passionate about specific things that I, I could personally bring to the table and do something.

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So I think, again, as we look at rural Arkansas and what do they what do our towns need from us?

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What are these businesses need us?

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Well, definitely, we know, especially from this past year, they need us to show up for them, just like they're showing up for us every day.

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You know, we just last week came out of this crazy snow time.

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But yet I'm watching on our Facebook and our town communication groups about our local restaurants.

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And here's their menus. And despite the fact that their delivery trucks didn't show up, OK, we have an adjusted menu.

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But here's our special today. And we're going to stay open until this time or we run out of food.

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And so I think, like, we've got to remember that our businesses are showing up for us.

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That's is what makes our accounts function.

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That is who our kids go to when they want t ball team jersey use and we want community events sponsored.

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And so we've got to remember to show up for them.

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But I also think I'm just not one to complain without a solution.

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And so we talked earlier about this thing a lot about solutions. I'm a solution seeker.

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That's one of the things that drives life for me. And so if I'm going to show up with a with a complaint or with a obstacle.

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I just challenge people to show up with a solution or come sit at the table and be part of the conversation.

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I think that is what we have seen.

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Create Bridges has given us the opportunity to do it's drawn some new people to the table for some of these conversations.

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And frankly, the process of these surveys and such has brought awareness to our community.

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For things I just don't think they knew were here. And so we don't all live on Google.

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We don't all you know, not everyone's, like, passionate about these crazy things that you and I are passionate about.

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But get in a car and just take a Saturday and go do a windshield tour of your community like Google and pretend you're a visitor to your town,

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get on TripAdvisor, get on Facebook like all the places that people would go and be a visitor in your

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town for a day and just kind of open your eyes so you know what is new here.

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But absolutely be part of the solution. I'm just showing up at the table again and again with create bridges.

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You know, that's what's been great about this steering committee, is different people bringing different tools that are in their personal toolbox.

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And so while I can quickly jump on one thing, someone else may have the capacity in time to do a long endurance project.

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And so I think just being part of that, even if you're not a board member at the Chamber Economic Development,

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they're always looking for volunteers and community advocates.

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So if you're passionate about something like go to the agency in your community, that can help you carry that out.

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And for now, at least until November, 2021, you know,

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folks can can come see Brandon Murriel or myself or RNC members, you know, and and really get the information.

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You know, I kind of right now, especially if you don't know,

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it's probably because you didn't ask or you go, you know, I mean, we are really reaching out.

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Also, if you're someone who, you know, has a story to tell and we want to interview you on the podcast, we want to hear from you.

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This is all about you. I mean, Create Bridges we're not asking anything of you.

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We are actually here to help you. And we want to really showcasing.

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So I will saying this is one of those that actually the call to action.

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Please come reach out to us. We are available. That's what we're here for.

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And you have us till November. So keisha been you have been wonderful to talk with.

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I've learned a lot about you. And you know, kind of your role in the early process, even before the RNC.

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And then and being a part of that with Create bridges. And again,

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we kind of we can do without you and the regional steering committee and all the folks that

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have been so committed to the program of Create bridges and asking for the boots on the ground.

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Murielle in your area. And a nine Ozark foothills.

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I will tell you, the three of us have just been so honored at the opportunity to serve our businesses,

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our entrepreneurs and you and entrusting us with that task.

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So it has been a pleasure. Thank you so much. Thank you.

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Thank you. And this is another episode of Create Bridges A Small Business Big rural impact see you next time.

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For more information about this or any Create Bridges podcast or more about Create bridges, Arkansas visit

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uaex.edu/createBridges, create bridges.

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Arkansas podcast is made possible by Wal-Mart grant to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture,
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Cooperative Extension, Community, Professional and Economic Development.

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And with the cooperation of Spring River Innovation Hub and White River Now productions.