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One in five Americans lives in a rural area and Main Street businesses are the backbone of those communities across the nation. Even before the pandemic, these entrepreneurs faced unique challenges compared to their urban counterparts. Among the top challenges are geographic isolation, inadequate broadband internet service, difficulty in hiring and retaining qualified workers, barriers to capital and reluctance from major industries to provide service in rural areas. Despite these challenges, rural firms continue to innovate, invest in their communities, and drive the economic rebirth after the pandemic but they need support. This hearing will give Members of the Committee the opportunity to hear about the benefits small firms bring to rural communities, difficulties they face, and how the SBA plays a role in supporting them, such as through the Office of Rural Affairs.
To view a livestream of the hearing, please click here.
Hearing Memo
Mr. Nathan Ohle
Chief Executive Officer
Rural Community Assistance Partnership
Washington, DC
Ms. Jessica Campos
Women’s Business Center Director
Center for Rural Affairs
Lyons, NE
Mr. Brett Challenger
Senior Vice President of the Regional Agribusiness Banking Group
CoBank
Greenwood Village, CO