Against the Grain

It is becoming clear to researchers why entrepreneurs
choose to locate in large metropolitan areas. Deep
business networks, an abundance of diverse capital
sources, and a lifestyle that attracts young
knowledge workers contribute to the robust
entrepreneurial environment of global cities. But
what of less-populated places? Often the site of
economic decline, smaller cities and boroughs boast a
more leisurely lifestyle, low start-up and operations
costs, and plenty of under-served customers for many
products and services. Yet, entrepreneurship is
often sluggish in these smaller places, where
national chains have forced many "Main Street"
businesses into bankruptcy. Despite these urban
trends, some entrepreneurs still choose to locate in
less-populated areas. AGAINST THE GRAIN investigates
the motivations of over forty entrepreneurs to
determine what motivated them to locate their
business in a small town. Set in rural Pennsylvania,
a diverse economy impacted by the disappearance of
many small town businesses, this monograph examines
individual and ecological motivations for choosing a
location, and proposes ways to encourage more
entrepreneurs to locate in small-town America.

Autorentext

Michael W-P Fortunato, M.S.: Graduate Research Assistant andInstructor of Community Economic Development and Rural Sociologyat The Pennsylvania State University. Specialist in place-basedentrepreneurship and its effects on local development andrevitalization in rural and small urban areas.

Klappentext

It is becoming clear to researchers why entrepreneurschoose to locate in large metropolitan areas. Deepbusiness networks, an abundance of diverse capitalsources, and a lifestyle that attracts youngknowledge workers contribute to the robustentrepreneurial environment of global cities. Butwhat of less-populated places? Often the site ofeconomic decline, smaller cities and boroughs boast amore leisurely lifestyle, low start-up and operationscosts, and plenty of under-served customers for manyproducts and services. Yet, entrepreneurship isoften sluggish in these smaller places, wherenational chains have forced many "Main Street"businesses into bankruptcy. Despite these urbantrends, some entrepreneurs still choose to locate inless-populated areas. AGAINST THE GRAIN investigatesthe motivations of over forty entrepreneurs todetermine what motivated them to locate theirbusiness in a small town. Set in rural Pennsylvania,a diverse economy impacted by the disappearance ofmany small town businesses, this monograph examinesindividual and ecological motivations for choosing alocation, and proposes ways to encourage moreentrepreneurs to locate in small-town America.