Connecting farm and non-farm businesses and neighbors to resources that help our Missouri rural communities thrive.
From deep roots comes new growth.
Transit
Building a network of volunteer drivers and coordinating regional transportation services in west central Missouri.
Women's Business Center
Focusing on the power and potential of rural women to employ themselves, provide jobs for others, and build their local economies and communities.
Food & Agriculture
Helping farmers, food businesses, and community organizations connect and build the working relationships needed to make farm-to-table work.
Financing
Offering microloans to startups and existing rural businesses that are having difficulty finding financing elsewhere, with the goal of graduating to traditional business loans.
Featured News
A selection of featured posts from our news feed.
Survey of Child Care
Parents, employers, and child care providers in Cedar, Henry, Polk, and St. Clair counties—your voice matters! Please share your experiences by survey before April 30, 2025, to help build an action plan for better child care solutions in west central Missouri.
Farm to Fork Connections
The 2025 Farm to Fork Summit and Expo was a huge success, bringing together over 170 people to celebrate and strengthen local food connections. See the listing of local contributors to the food value chain who attended and are helping build a resilient regional food system.
Is Rural Ready for the 2026 World Cup Visitors?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is bringing over half a million visitors to Kansas City, but with hotels expected to reach capacity, travelers will be looking for places to stay and explore up to 2.5 hours away—right in our region. With the Route 66 Centennial Festival and Branson attractions drawing tourists south, now is the time for rural businesses and communities to prepare for this once-in-a-generation economic opportunity.