Stories in Issue Media publications highlight Northern Initiatives’ work with rural entrepreneurs.
“Location is vital to rural entrepreneurs. They are the most creative entrepreneurs out there,” Lanctot said. “They’re not dealt the same hand, and they have to be clever to make it work.” He cites deliveries not arriving from vendors, especially in the winter, “to the point where the business has to close because they’re out of supplies. It’s unpredictable when or if the truck is going to arrive.”
Staffing in an area without a big population gets pretty tricky too, Lanctot said, but incentives help.
“You have to offer higher wages and better benefits. It’s common for someone to drive 20 to 30 minutes to work, so some people give fuel cards too.” The driving can be a problem as well. “The traveling back and forth in the winter is often enough for some people.”
But the western Upper Peninsula where Lanctot works is a land of “hidden gems” that more people should enjoy. “We need to give tourists a reason to come, because there’s lots to see. And more people visiting helps all the businesses,” he said.
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