You care about your town. Let’s do something about it, one step at a time.

You see the empty storefronts. You hear business owners talk about slow weekdays. You know your community has potential, but you’re not always sure where to start or who to talk to. The Small Town Startup Community is a place for people who want to understand what’s happening in their towns and take practical steps to make things better. Each month, we’ll tackle one challenge, share useful tools, learn from one another, and find something you can do right where you live.

You don't need to be an elected official, economic development professional, or business owner to participate. You just need to care about your town and be willing to do the work.

Memberships Launch Oct. 1, 2026

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$19.99 per month

Cancel anytime.

A membership for people who care about their small towns and want to do something about it. Each month, we’ll explore one small-town challenge through practical resources, a manageable action you can take where you live, and a live group working session. You’ll also have a place to ask questions, share what you’re learning, and connect with people doing similar work in their communities. Join on your own. You don’t need a team, a title, or permission to start. $19/month. Cancel anytime. The Small Town Startup Community is an ongoing membership. The full six-week Downtown 365 program is a separate offering.

What we'll cover

Understand what’s really happening in your town

Look beyond the usual assumptions and start asking better questions. We’ll explore what residents and business owners need, where the gaps are, and what might be keeping people from spending more time and money locally.

Make better use of the spaces you already have

Talk about vacant storefronts, underused buildings, disconnected shopping areas, and what makes a downtown useful throughout the week. We’ll explore ideas you can investigate in your own community.

Get people involved in a productive way

You don’t need a title to start a productive conversation. Learn how to connect with business owners, residents, property owners, chambers, and local leaders, and find opportunities to work together.

Understand what’s getting in the way

Explore the everyday barriers that can make it harder to open, operate, or grow a small business. We’ll discuss how to research an issue, ask useful questions, and bring constructive ideas to the people who can help.

How to take one useful step a month

You don’t have to solve every problem in your town this month. Each monthly topic comes with a practical challenge to help you turn what you’re learning into something you can actually do. Choose the topic that matters most to you each month.

Tools you can actually use

Downtown Observation Guide

Take a closer look at your downtown. Notice what’s working, where people spend time, and what might be making it harder for them to visit or stay.

Vacant Space Tracker

Start documenting empty and underused spaces in your town, along with what you know, what you still need to find out, and where opportunities might exist.

Community Conversation Guides

Get practical questions to help you have productive conversations with business owners, residents, property owners, chambers, and local leaders.

Small Business Listening Guide

Learn how to ask business owners what they actually need, rather than assuming you already know the answers.

Monthly Action Worksheets

Turn each month’s topic (choose the one that matters most to you) into one manageable step you can take in your own community.

Meeting & Follow-Up Templates

Keep track of conversations, decisions, and next steps so good ideas don’t disappear after the meeting ends.

Live sessions (optional, recorded)

Monthly Working Session

Each month, we’ll get together to talk through the issue we’re tackling, share what’s happening in our towns, and work through questions together. Come with a challenge, an idea, or just a willingness to listen and learn.

Ask Lisa

Have a question about a vacant building, a struggling business district, or how to get the right people in the room? Bring it to a live group Q&A. We’ll work through real situations and explore practical next steps.

Member Conversations

Hear from people doing the work in their own communities. We’ll talk about what they’ve tried, what they’re learning, and what they wish they’d known sooner. You’ll have a chance to share your experience, too.