The Oklahoma Farm Bureau recently introduced a program designed to empower rural entrepreneurs: Launch Rural OK. OKFB’s Rural Economic Development Coordinator Amarie Bartel was excited to tell Oklahoma Farm Report’s KC Sheperd all about this collaborative effort that brings together various rural entrepreneurship resource providers to support and foster the growth of small businesses in Oklahoma’s rural communities.
Launch Rural OK is a centralized website, offering rural entrepreneurs a one-stop shop for essential resources and information. Through this program, entrepreneurs gain access to a comprehensive network of support, empowering them to navigate the challenges and opportunities unique to rural businesses.
“If someone owns a small business or wants to start a small business, rather than scouring the internet to find the right folks, they can go to LaunchRuralOK.com to learn about all of the resources that are out there to support their small business,” Bartel said. “Rural Oklahomans value relationships and that is really important to us as resource providers so we realized that we didn’t just need a website that folks have to find. We needed to go out and be available.”
Upcoming Conferences
To do that, Launch Rural OK has scheduled four conferences across Oklahoma in 2025 throughout February and March. Each conference will focus on a specific region within the state, ensuring all rural communities have the opportunity to participate. These conferences will provide valuable workshops, networking opportunities, and access to a variety of resources that can directly benefit rural entrepreneurs.
“The conferences will be in every quadrant in the state of Oklahoma,” Bartel said. “One in Southeast Oklahoma on February 14th. One in Northeast Oklahoma on March 14th, and one in Northwest Oklahoma on March 31st. Resources will be highlighted at these conferences, but so will many other things, like Marketing 101 and How to Network – things of that nature that are actionable skills that small businesses may want, but haven’t always been easily accessible.”
LaunchRuralOK.com: A Hub for Entrepreneurs
The program’s website, launchruralok.com, serves as a central hub for rural entrepreneurs. The website offers a wealth of resources, including:
- Informative content: Gain valuable insights and knowledge relevant to running a rural business.
- Event listings: Stay updated on upcoming conferences, workshops, and other events geared toward rural entrepreneurs.
- Resource map: Discover essential resources available to support your rural business.
Stay Informed and Connected
Launch Rural OK’s website also features a dedicated events tab, allowing entrepreneurs to stay informed about upcoming conferences, workshops, and other events happening across the state. This ensures rural entrepreneurs have ample opportunities to connect, collaborate, and access the support they need to thrive.
Launch Rural OK: A Promising Initiative for Oklahoma’s Rural Businesses
Launch Rural OK is a commendable initiative that demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting Oklahoma’s rural entrepreneurs. By providing a centralized platform for resources, hosting informative conferences, and fostering connections, Launch Rural OK empowers rural businesses to flourish and contribute to the economic vitality of their communities.
“It is such an exciting time to be an Oklahoman,” Bartel commented. “We have momentum. We have movers and shakers who are doing incredible things and so, why not get together and hang out, you know?”
Learn More about the programs and the events by clicking here.
“At the top of the homepage, there is a tab that says ‘Conferences,'” Bartel explained. “So, you can click on those. All of these conferences are free to attend and anyone is welcome to attend all of these events. There is also an ‘Events’ tab, and this is something that I think is really fun. It features events for entrepreneurs that are happening all across the state.”
Through the “Events” tab, people can also post their own events or add themselves as a resource for rural entrepreneurs by clicking “Join the Map” and creating an account.
“This is a really inclusive, accessible place for anyone in the entrepreneurship space,” Bartel concluded.
