Three Missouri Main Street programs have been selected as part of 30 communities nationwide, including Puerto Rico, to participate in Main Street America’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Rural Communities Pilot Program. This initiative is supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, in partnership with Forward Cities. The program’s goal is to engage, activate, and empower entrepreneurial talent in rural communities, ensuring local downtown districts reflect the diversity of their inhabitants. Participants will identify obstacles preventing entrepreneurs from starting or growing local businesses and develop action plans to overcome these challenges.