Starting a Business in Rural America? Watch the Rural Economic Forum for Business Resources

On Thursday, SBA and the White House, in conjunction with the Delta Regional Authority and the Appalachian Regional Commission, will host the Oxford, Mississippi Rural Economic Forum, connecting entrepreneurs and business owners with resources, programs and services to start or a grow a business. 

The Oxford Rural Economic Forum, the eighth of a multi-city series, will cover topics like the Small Business Investment Company program which helped put more than $400 million in investment capital directly into the hands of high growth rural businesses since last October.  Other SBA programs and services like business mentoring, government contracting and access to capital  will also be discussed.  

Speakers and panelists for the Oxford Rural Economic Forum include:

• Marie Johns, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
• Ari Matusiak, Director, White House Business Council, White House
• Chris Masingill, Federal Co-Chairman, Delta Regional Authority
• Earl Gohl, Federal Co-Chairman, Appalachian Regional Commission
• Bill Bynum, Director, Hope Enterprise Corporation
• J. R. Jones, Co-Founder, SanJo Security Services
• Vernon R. Kelley III, Executive Director, Three Rivers Planning and Development District
• Guy Lipscomb, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Southern Motion
• L. Ray Moncrief, Executive Vice President and COO, Kentucky Highlands Development Corporation
• Dr. Barbara Ousby, Co-Founder and Vice President, C&B Enterprises Incorporated
• John Brandon, Associate Program Manager, Mississippi Development Authority
• Thomas Darnell, President of Hines County, BancorpSouth

Watch the forum via live stream beginning at 8:00am CDT on July 12.  You can also join the conversation and follow the forum on Twitter using the hashtag #RuralEconForum.

About the Author

Marie Johns is Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. She is responsible for management and oversight of the agency, and leads the agency’s efforts to reach underserved communities.