RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The term “entrepreneurship” has been used to describe new and successful for-profit enterprises that create wealth for the owners and management at the top, along with jobs for workers who are employed throughout the business. At ARDR, we also include the creation and operation of social enterprise NGOs, non-governmental, nonprofit organizations, which provide many local jobs and bring money into an area, but are not created to make money for the individuals who run them. Instead, success is measured by an increased quality of life for the entire community, and jobs are created for the employees, along with the opportunity to get training and professional experience. Sometimes these businesses are the same ones as those for profit, but all revenue is turned back into the operation, instead of going into the owner’s pocket.

We at ARDR believe the creation and success of social enterprises is equally important as the creation and success of profit businesses, for the community and for the individuals involved. They are especially important now, when there is a great deal of new money pouring into Romania for upgrading services to meet the standards of the European Union. Much of that money will be administered by NGOs throughout the country, and some of it will also go to private contractors to fulfill the requirements of the funding.

Small startup businesses will also be a focus of the Rural Entrepreneurship program of ARDR. Good ideas and ambition must be coupled with adequate financial capital to develop and grow a business. That often means someone else’s money, someone who is willing to take a risk on the success of the business. If a small businessman is fortunate, he has rich parents and other relatives and friends who will provide that money, but for everyone else it requires banks, special lending programs, and funders who require a professional business plan and an operational scheme that shows that the person with bright idea and ambition has the ability to make the business succeed. No one wants to throw their money away, certainly not banks and institutional funders, but not even mom and dad!