University of Nebraska Kearney

 The Center for Rural Research and Development is the entrepreneurship center for the UNK campus.  We dedicate ourselves to the needs of small businesses in rural Nebraska.

Could your business use an analysis of how a future product will perform in the market?

Have you struggled with really understanding or reaching your customers?

Does your community really understand the needs and wants of its residents?

Call 308-865-8199 for more information and a FREE initial consultation, including a customized, professional research design plan

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 What's New in 2013? 

Biz Kidz Camp: Kearney

Register now for our First EVER Middle School entrepreneurship camp - August 5 through August 8, 2013

Download our flyer and registration form or call the office for more information.

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The Rural Futures Institute (RFI) has announced five (5) recipients of Research and Engagement Grants and six (6) recipients of Teaching and Engagement Grants beginning in February, 2013.

The CRRD Director, Shawn Kaskie, is the Principle Investigator on one of those successful applications for a project called "Rural Sourcing". 
Rural Sourcing relates to existing and start-up companies strategically locating operations in rural areas to reduce labor costs and increase employee reliability.  This project aims to expand on a successful "cross-sourcing" model used by the existing software company, Xpanxion, and will modify it to recruit University of Nebraska alumni back to rural Nebraska in targeted professional service occupations.  The first phase of this project will build on existing research exploring the lifestyle expectations and career preferences of alumni who have moved out of state.  Additional case study research seeks to understand the process and motivation for alumni who have moved back to rural Nebraska and are employed in these occupations.  Data collected from phase one will direct the strategies of communication and education for alumni who have opted into receive information related to current job openings or assistance for starting or buying a business in rural areas.

UNK is here to help with your prototyping needs!  Businesses of all sizes and shapes....no pun intended......can use this great technology to build a model or even a fully-functional part for concept development, sales or testing of fit and function.  Please visit our newly constructed page for more information.

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The Center for Rural Research and Development (CRRD) is now the University's Entrepreneurship Center, which includes International Entrepreneurship; it was restructured during early 2007. 

By combining two programs,  Entrepreneurship & Innovation and  Business & International Education, under one director in one office (Center for Rural Research and Development) the University has increased its ability to respond to the education and training needs of business owners in rural Nebraska and doing business in a global marketplace.  

The mission of the Center for Rural Research and Development focuses on empowering the region's residents to seek avenues of rural economic development by building entrepreneurial and professional capacity, and by encouraging creative thinking about the economic growth of our region. The center espouses the "grow-your-own" philosophy of economic development, known as economic gardening, as well as other approaches to economic and business development.

The center focuses on outreach efforts, offering a portfolio of innovative programs and initiatives for various constituencies. These programs are organized into three areas: university, community, and global partnerships.
 

University Partnerships
Market Research Program 

• This link provides a presentation of highlights of a recent study on Rural Retail Success
• Attention NEF/Beatrice Chamber forum attendees: Here's the link for the lunch presentation by Shawn Kaskie on November 30, 2010

Community Research Projects
     
Kay Payne Case Competition 

Community Partnerships

Baldwin Free Enterprise Lecture Series

Nebraska State Agency Director Series
     
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program

     
Global Partnerships

Business and International Education Grant 
International Business Minor

International Business Internship Program

Certified Global Business Professional

Global Scholars Seminar Series 

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Shawn Kaskie		Carrie Stithem
Director		Assistant
308-865-8135 kaskiesc@unk.edu		308-865-8199 stithemcl@unk.edu