Why Rural Missouri Women Are Starting Businesses—with a Hidden Reward
- Thomas Smugala
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Brian Gerau's Jackson Chamber Women’s Impact Network Draws 130+ Every Other Month.
Across the 573, more women are opening shops, agencies, farms, and service firms—many are doing it because it offers hidden rewards outside of money—keep reading if you want the real motivation.
Nationally, women now start close to half of new U.S. businesses. In rural areas, the share of women-owned firms is still lower than in cities, yet the change is visible on Main Street: insurance offices, construction project leads, clinics, boutiques, agritourism, and online stores run from kitchen tables and converted barns. Women also farm or co-farm more than two-fifths of American farmland, a quiet shift that is rewriting who steers rural land and cash flow.
The reasons stack up. Owning a business lets women set hours around family, aging parents, and school calendars. The internet and social media shrink the competition field. Chambers and women’s networks—luncheons, mentors, leadership programs—replace the good ol’ boys’ circuit with practical skills and a room full of peers—but there is a much bigger elephant in the room.
Women-owned businesses in small towns now keep talent, services, and a next generation at home, keeping their families together—and they are doing it with a little help from their friends.
Meet Brian Gerau, 18 years at the Jackson Area Chamber
My name is Brian Gerau. My wife, Sara, and I have been married for 28 years. Sara is a Farmers Insurance agent here in the Jackson area. We have two children, Jackson and Brooke. Jackson is a credit analyst with Montgomery Bank, and Brooke is a project engineer with Nabholz Construction. We are extremely proud of both of them and the careers they have built. Family has always been incredibly important to me, and I’m fortunate to have a family that supports my involvement in the community and the work I do through the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.
When we moved to Jackson in 2005–2006, I wanted to meet people, become involved, and find ways to contribute to the community. The Chamber was a natural place to start. I became a volunteer, an ambassador, a committee member—you name it, and I was probably involved. I really immersed myself in the Chamber and the community. When the previous Chamber director unexpectedly passed away, her husband actually contacted me and encouraged me to apply for the position. I was considered for the role largely because of my involvement and volunteer work with the Chamber. I never imagined that decision would turn into an 18-year journey. But here we are—18 years later, and I still love what I do and the opportunity to work every day on behalf of Jackson's businesses and community.
...more women are opening shops, farms, and firms in rural Missouri.
At its core, the Chamber is here to help businesses grow and succeed. We market our businesses and our community. We help recruit new businesses and investment. We assist with mentorship, apprenticeship, and leadership-development programs, and we play an active role in workforce development. We also oversee tourism for the City of Jackson, working to bring visitors into our community and encourage them to experience our destinations, restaurants, shops and events. And perhaps most importantly, we advocate. We advocate locally and statewide on issues that directly affect our businesses, our workforce, and our schools. The Chamber has evolved far beyond simply being a networking organization. We are a business resource, a marketing organization, a workforce partner, a tourism organization, and an advocate for the business community.
When visitors come to Jackson, they eat at our restaurants, shop in our stores...
Tourism is an exciting new chapter for Jackson. With the passage of the city's tourism tax, we now have a dedicated resource to market Jackson as a destination and bring more visitors into our community. The goal is simple: get more people to Jackson, keep them here longer, and encourage them to spend money with our local businesses. That means promoting our events, restaurants, shops, attractions, and destinations while telling the story of what makes Jackson a great place to visit. Tourism isn't just about visitors—it has a direct economic impact on our businesses. When visitors come to Jackson, they eat at our restaurants, shop in our stores, attend our events, and experience our community. We want to be intentional about tourism and build a program that creates measurable results for Jackson.
Inside the Women’s Impact Network.
For the past eight years, our Women's Impact Network has been a state leader in educating, networking, and developing women in leadership and entrepreneurship. Every other month, we host a topical presentation that routinely draws more than 130 women. We cover issues that affect women in every aspect of their lives—from health and business to finances, leadership and personal development. What makes the program special is that it isn't just about professional development. It's about creating a network of women who support, encourage, and learn from one another. Women's Impact Network has become an award-winning branch of the Jackson Area Chamber and is currently one of our fastest-growing and most requested programs. It's a great example of how the Chamber continues to evolve. We aren't simply focused on helping businesses today—we're investing in the people who will lead those businesses and our community tomorrow.
Jackson Chamber President Brian Gerau is WIN-ing, with the Women’s Impact Network drawing 130+ women and helping rural 573 entrepreneurs lead, stay, and grow. We at the 573 Magazine like that. GET OUT THERE!
Take a hike. Start a business. Do something. Do anything. Get out there, that sunken sofa won't miss you—time's a-wasting!
—Pics & Words by T. Smugala.
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