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Entrepreneurship and Economic Development in Rural America

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Disability and Vocational Rehabilitation in Rural Settings

Abstract

Economic development and employment in rural areas include barriers such as geographical limitations, lack of contemporary skills for the workforce, stereotypes, and disincentives of fringe benefits for workers. Employment growth lags behind metropolitan areas. To understand and address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by people with disabilities living in rural communities requires an awareness of what drives economic development and workforce initiatives. Entrepreneurship offers one possible approach to unemployment in rural communities. This chapter presents an overview of employment trends, challenges, and solutions in rural America, particularly for those with disabilities.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community and Leadership Development, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

    Ronald J. Hustedde

Authors
  1. Ronald J. Hustedde
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ronald J. Hustedde .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Early Childhood, Special, Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    Debra A. Harley

  2. College of Health and Human Services, Rehabilitation Services and Rehabilitation Counseling, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA

    Noel A. Ysasi

  3. Department of Early Childhood, Special, Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    Malachy L. Bishop

  4. Pennsylvania State University, Rehabilitation and Human Services, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Allison R. Fleming

Learning Exercises

Learning Exercises

Self-Check Questions

  1. 1.

    What are some of the reasons that people with disabilities consider entrepreneurial activity?

  2. 2.

    What are the different entrepreneurial types?

  3. 3.

    What is the argument in favor of entrepreneurs consisting of teams rather than individuals?

  4. 4.

    What are the differences between urban and rural entrepreneurship?

  5. 5.

    How can entrepreneurship be enhanced for people with disabilities at the local level?

Experiential Activities

  1. 1.

    Interview an individual with a disability in a rural area that is engaged in entrepreneur activity or is self-employed, and report on how he or she got started and how he or she is maintaining the enterprise.

  2. 2.

    Meet with a local business owner, and discuss what is necessary to develop a business plan for a self-start business.

  3. 3.

    Identify an incubator for small business development in your local community, and determine available resources to assist in the development of entrepreneurial activities.

  4. 4.

    Interview a rehabilitation counselor that has a rural caseload, and discuss if he or she has assisted clients to become self-employed and what supports and strategies were used.

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Hustedde, R.J. (2018). Entrepreneurship and Economic Development in Rural America. In: Harley, D., Ysasi, N., Bishop, M., Fleming, A. (eds) Disability and Vocational Rehabilitation in Rural Settings. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64786-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64786-9_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-64785-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-64786-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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