Become their fate changer.
Make them a big deal again.
“When we lose small towns, we lose everything
that we stand for.
We lose entrepreneurs.
We lose historic properties.
We lose pride.
We lose jobs.”
- Mike Wolfe
"American Picker" TV show
Show
your love!
Small Town
champions ~
join,
follow & engage
on STC
online platforms!
Small Towns & Social Media
Welcome to Small Town Connections, STC, where small towns matter in a big way.
Whether you are living in a small town now, once did or just love their charm and history ~ you are our people!
We are encouraging everyone to join our online communities! Youtube will be our main platform, with smaller presences on the others. Our first goal is to reach 1,000 on each platform. Please consider sharing us with your followers (or kids/friends if you are not active)! FYI this is the best boost for the algorithm, along with 'following' and engaging by leaving comments. Of course we'll take the likes and saves too!
A robust online community on STC will reflect, in a major way, the validity of small towns to potential sponsors and funders. We aim to draw attention nationwide, raising awareness of the unique small towns challenges and opportunities.
You know they look! Let's be there. :-)
STC will spotlight all-things small towns. Cj will have interviews, small town spotlights, history bits, cool solutions and more. She would love to hear your ideas and what you would enjoy seeing in the content. There is so much to cover; she wants to inspire and show the love.
By joining our community, you're connecting with fellow small town enthusiasts and playing a crucial role! Yay us!
97% of the USA
is rural.
3 out of 10
Americans live
in small towns.
In 15 states,
rural areas account
for over 50% of
the population.
Meet Cj & Her Passion
Small towns have always been special to me. It might be the underdog thing, it might be the charm and history of days gone by. Even though I grew up a farmer's daughter in a small town, it was much later that helping the fate of small towns became my life's calling.
As we always travel the back roads, I always notice our small towns. My heart is so happy seeing a thriving one and immediately wanting to stop and linger. It is driving through the struggling ones that pulls at my heart to want to help.
It was a few years ago now, while networking for a career lead, a new friend asked what else I wanted to do. To my surprise, I said I wanted to help small towns.That sweet innocent question began my journey.
Now armed with a great deal more information and more inspiration, I now know that my whole career has led me to this passion in my heart, to shine a spotlight on all-things small towns.
The Benson & Kane Chapter
This sweet yellow house built me. My parents bought this dilapidated home in a small town very far from my hometown. My Dad and I designed the changes and updates with him doing most of the work. My Mom and I had a gift basket side hustle at the time. The renovation brought together a dream of hers of running a restaurant along with our side business.
Back in the late '90s we threw open the doors and ran it for a solid five years. Those were some of the best years with my parents. We tackled the small town business issues of operations, sales, marketing and enjoyed weaving ourselves into the community, forging partnerships that had great impact.
The real eye opener came in understanding how vital it is to preserve not just a building but a piece of history in these small towns. It was far more than gingerbread and paint. It went beyond mere renovations; it was about honoring our past, valuing and giving an active voice to our stories. When we safeguard our heritage it will be for the generations to come.
The Name? It's a history thing! Dr. Benson, a civil war era doctor, crafted this stunning Gothic home back in 1867. He was once in business in town with Dr. Kane and Benson & Kane was their business name. So it is not just a name; it is a nod to our shared past, our business endeavors and the unique partnership between my Mom and me.
Ohhh, the Projects!
We're building connections, generating contacts and envisioning great new things for our small towns nationwide. Join us on this journey of preservation, celebration and revitalization. We anticipate and welcome many more ideas for projects from this community from you ~ you matter to small towns!
Future & Dreams
These projects are important dreams! We need to provide real solutions right now, getting a Co-Motion going! Small towns are our country's backbone and are our treasures to lift up and share.
Calling Contacts!
We invite you to reach out! Your insights, introductions and support can play a crucial role. Not sure if someone is a good match? New friends are always great! Email introduce us and we can take it from there!
New Search Engine
Another game-changing idea on the horizon is a Pinterest-like search site dedicated to small towns. Picture this: towns creating pins that travelers can search, accessing backroad travel planning, connected information across the route and the ability to search buildings for sale, small business opportunities and so much more!
Improving Signage!
There are projects on a state level that we're exploring, such as improving signage towards historic small towns. Simple better signage would create massive impact! By making it easier for mainstream travelers to discover these hidden gems and immerse themselves in our rich heritage, everyone is a winner ~ the out-of-towners, the locals and the state. It is way overdue and in today's world it would create a new excitement and impact to the tune of millions!
TV Show Idea
Our idea of a renovation TV show concept is that each episode features small towns of one state! This idea is ready to pitch and is what sparked the initial inspiration for our endeavors.
Who is STC?
All of these!
Most folks think Small Town Connections is like something they already know about; the reality is this is a new social media platform with a general view about the many facets that make up our small towns. These are a few:
Tourism ~ of course we want folks to go enjoy our small towns, but we talk about much more!
Renovations ~ historical buildings are in need of a great deal of love in most cases. We spotlight the the many improvements ~ from small to large.
Small Business ~ our 'Mom & Pop' business are the backbone of our small towns. There is no small town America without them!
Community ~ this is Everything. We hope to inspire by showcasing many examples of small town community and belonging.