Peripheral towns and cities across the globe have suffered a longstanding, almost accepted slow demise as young people move out of the area, manufacturing concerns close down, and farming is mechanized. Traditional forms of employment are dying out, and the old cooperative way of life is coming to an end. However, there is definitely a change afoot, and these small towns are beginning to see life return in a major way. It’s almost worthy of the ‘trending’ moniker.
International business has changed dramatically
Businesses from everywhere are all looking to enter international markets; the spread of information and knowledge has meant that as long as you are mobile and are on the World Wide Web, then you can be selling and promoting your products from anywhere that has an internet connection, some storage, and a decent logistics or postal service.
The rise of the remote worker has seen more professionals move from the big cities into these peripheral towns and villages. With smaller towns now being seen as the preferred option to raise children. Thus, there is a need for these small towns to now look at how they can sustain this growth and ensure that they have the means to attract even more people.
The resurgence of the small town and rural village
The small town, backwater, or rural village has long been in demographic decline, young people left these towns to move to the big cities, and this seemed the natural way of the world. Larger, more populated urban areas have until very recently been the drawcard for professionals, business people, and young graduates looking to start a career. This has changed over the last 18 months, and there is now a noticeable trend of movement in the other direction and a hold on the level of out migration from smaller towns and cities. This is primarily because there is now a way to find gainful employment that has a future without having to rely on one of the big manufacturing giants moving to town.
Cloud computing and technology will be the answer
The type of work and business that sells and that is in demand is now primarily internet and web-based. The numbers show that this is a trend that is likely to continue into the long term, and as such, it is a sure-fire way for small businesses and small-town manufacturing, bespoke cottage industries to all get involved in the regeneration of small towns by using the available technology to build and develop.
It will be incumbent for those looking to get in on this small-town growth and development to have the right mindset and skills. The range of skills are wide and varied, but one of the suggested avenues is Cloud computing, and to learn Google Cloud would put you on to a winning ticket.
As small towns continue to look for ways to improve and sustain their economies and to stem the out-migration, they have been presented a lifeline. The online world of work and the ability to now do most jobs from pretty much anywhere as long as you have the right technology and connectivity is changing small-town America and those around the globe.