In this episode of Leading Ladies of Economic Development, Deb Brown, co-founder of Save Your Town and author of From Possibilities to Reality, shares her journey from rural Iowa to her national work revitalizing small towns. She discusses the founding of Savior Town and introduces the “idea friendly” approach—a method centered on small, actionable steps and community collaboration. The conversation highlights success stories, the value of kindness and inclusivity, and advice for towns navigating change. Deb also shares insights from her book, emphasizing that rural communities can build a better future by listening to residents and taking practical, incremental actions.

In this episode, we explore:

Quotable: “ You get a lot further taking small steps than trying to do it all at once.”

Resources and Links

Special Guest: Deb Brown.