Published: May 21, 2007 05:13 pm         

Rural entrepreneur group plans meetings

The Future Rural Entrepreneur Development Group has announced it is meeting monthly in Indianapolis on the first Tuesday of each month.

The FRED Group is free-of-charge and all rural entrepreneurs and their families are welcome to join. Participating counties include Clay, Greene, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo.

FRED is a rural entrepreneur nurturing and development group. It assists rural families who are either starting a small business or enhancing their existing business. This group is presented by the Rural Entrepreneur Network, a not-for-profit group supported by Hoosier Heartland Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.

Jim Roudebush, the Rural Entrepreneur Network director, facilitates the FRED Groups. “Entrepreneurs, who are found in both city and country, are people who perceive new opportunities and create and grow ventures around those opportunities,” he said. “Rural entrepreneurs are especially challenged in finding ready resources and networking opportunities.”

At the FRED meetings, members have learned about business types, have developed skills needed, and have heard from outside experts. Additionally, the group provides business information to its members through the group’s Resource and Information Center.

Topics at recent meetings include: improving profit for your business, organizing groups of rural entrepreneurs in like-minded business pursuits, zoning issues that affect rural business, and passing land down to the next generation. Many new topics are planned.

The group meets from 6 to 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at a site off Interstate 465 and West 71st Street. The FRED Group may expand to another location in south-central Indiana. Those interested in joining the FRED Group can call (317) 290-3250 or e-mail REN at hhrcd@hhrcd.org with contact information.