Have you signed up for the 2025 Small Business Summit yet?
This must-attend day long event is coming right here to Madison County, NY. The summit is for anyone looking to thrive in the business world. The Madison County Rural Equity Group (Rural EQ) knows that starting and growing a business is no easy task, particularly in rural areas.
Whether you’re a seasoned small business owner, a solopreneur, or someone just starting out, the path to success can often feel challenging and isolating. That's why you should attend the
2025 Small Business Summit on January 15, 2025, at SUNY Morrisville.
This summit offers an invaluable opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with the support of local, state, and national business experts. This year the New York Sherpa, Josiah Brown, will be giving a keynote speech about the connection between the growing visitor economy and thriving small business. Brown is the former Chair of the New York State Tourism Industry Association. He has logged over 900,000 driving miles throughout New York State and 47 states
in America working to help destinations better leverage their visitor economy for community vitality and growth. Rural EQ is excited to be bringing his expertise and vision to our small businesses here in Madison County.
The Small Business Summit promises to provide a wealth of other resources, hands-on advice, and a variety of networking opportunities aimed at helping entrepreneurs succeed in the rural business landscape. Attendees can look forward to a wide range of informative sessions, including:
Access to Capital: Learn about the various funding opportunities available to small businesses, from grants to loans, and how to prepare for a successful funding application.
Regional Resources for Small Business: Discover local and regional programs designed to support small businesses and help them grow.
Government Contracting: Get insights into how to tap into government contracting opportunities—an often underutilized avenue for small businesses.
Developing Your Workforce: Gain strategies on how to attract and retain the right talent for your business.
Marketing: Explore effective marketing strategies that will help your business stand out in a competitive marketplace.
Rural Women in Business Roundtable: A special session focused on empowering and connecting women entrepreneurs in rural areas.
In addition to the informative sessions, one of the greatest benefits of attending the Summit is the opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, local experts, and business support organizations. Experts from the Small Business Development Center, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Partnership for Community Development, and the Wise Women’s Business Center will be available for one-on-one advising, providing personalized guidance tailored to
your specific business needs.
The feedback from last year’s attendees demonstrates the real impact of this event. As one attendee put it, “The biggest takeaway is that there are SO many resources in our county, and surrounding areas, you just have to find your people and ask the questions.” This sentiment is echoed in several other responses from participants, including:
“It is hard to do business in New York, many of the people I talked to agreed there is way too much red tape to do business here. I’m glad there are people out there trying to support and bring business back to New York.”
“The single most valuable thing that I gained from the Summit were the connections I made. It’s so important to find the right people to collaborate with.”
“There’s a lot of guidance and assistance out there, and now I know exactly where to reach out.”
“I learned about different forms of funding and how to properly prepare to make that process as easy as possible.”
“Thank you for putting this together and giving us small businesses a fighting chance.”
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