NC1030: Sustainable and Resilient Systems: Transformative Response to Disruptions by Families, Businesses, and Communities

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Active

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[12/01/2021] [10/07/2022] [10/06/2023] [12/16/2024] [12/22/2025]

Date of Annual Report: 12/01/2021

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/06/2021 - 10/09/2021
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2020 - 09/30/2021

Participants

Cheang, Michael (University of Hawaii); Niehm, Linda (Iowa State University); LeHew, Melody L. A. (Kansas State University); Zuiker, Virginia (University of Minnesota); Valdivia Corinne, (University of Missouri); Haynes, George W. (Montana State University); Manikowske, Linda (North Dakota State University); Jorgensen, Jennifer Johnson (University of Nebraska-Lincoln); Marshall, Maria I. (Purdue University); Lee, Yoon G. (Utah State University); Jasper, Cynthia R. (University of Wisconsin). New members starting October 1, 2021: Inwood, Shoshanah (The Ohio State University); Visser, Anne (UC Davis); Diddi, Sonali (Colorado State University). Also attending Renee Wiatt and Sandra Sydnor, Purdue University.
Also present on October 7 Dr. M. D. Wilcox (Purdue University) advisor to NC1030.

Brief Summary of Minutes

This year the NC1030 Annual Meeting took place at Utah State University, hosted by Dr. Yoon Lee, October 7 and 8. All the state representatives were present either in person or virtual, along with NC1030 advisor. On October 7, day one (8:30 - 5:00pm) there were introductions by NC1030 co-chairs Marshall and Valdivia, welcoming new members from California, Colorado, and Ohio, and the welcome of Dr. Chris Davies, Associate Director of Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, who addressed the importance of maintining resilience and sustainable communities and businesses in the context of COVID as well as climate change. He was impressed by the diversity and national scope of the members of NC-1030. A presentation by Dr. Don Albrecht, excutive director of the Western Rural Development Center focused on Sustianable and Resilienct Businesses. Next, Dr. LeHew gave a presentation of the 5 year project that began October 1^st, as new members have joined from Colorado State, UC Davis, and The Ohio State University. The business meeting was held following the presentations. The Co-chairs were selected, Drs. Sandra Sydnor and Virginia Zuiker. The remaining of Day 1 focused on the discussion of potential research activities and development of interest groups on each of the objectives of the new project, and data collection for the new project. The framework that informs the research for the next five years was also a focus of brainstorming activities. Four themes were identified: 1) Rural Small Business Recovery and Resilience to Natural Hazards; 2) Sustainable and Resilient SMEs in a Regenerative Fiber and Food System; 3) Entrepreneurial and Innovative Response to Disruption and System Shocks by Family-Owned SMEs; 4) Contributions of Socioemotional Wealth, Rurality, Collaboration and Race on Resilience and Success of Family-Owned SMEs; and 5) Impact of Transgenerational Control and Transfer within Family Businesses on Resilience and Recovery. Day two began with welcoming and a presentation by Dr. Scot Allgood, Department Head of Human Development and Family Studies, focusing on socio emotional health in this difficult times, addressing mental health problems, both related to students of concern, and of business owners. Dr. Marshall presented on the NCRCRD (North Central Region Center for Research and Development) Grant Opportunities promoting rural development, and opportunities for research groups that include multiple states in the North Central region. This was followed by presentations of existing and new data sets that are available for collaborative research. Then the members gathered in groups to brainstorm on the themes followed by a discussion of impacts of the 5 year project 2016-2021. Discussions concentrated on the supporting evidence from the literature and on-going research, agreeing to the following objectives for the five year project:

Objective 1: Identify and measure the sources of major change and disruption and the structural barriers that impact the family/household, the business or the community.

Objective 2: Identify and measure transformative responses to the positive and negative impacts of change and disruption on the family/household, the business, or the community.

Objective 3: Determine and inform policy or practice related to the wellbeing of the family, the business, or the community.

Minutes Attachment:

NC-1030 AnnualReport2021_finalYear5.pdf

Accomplishments

Accomplishments by NC 1030 Research Objectives (2020-2021):  The NC1030 research team met every other month virtually to share and discuss on-going research activities. These meetings also informed the research team of current and upcoming research projects.  Smaller groups met throughout the year to discuss on-going research and to work on manuscripts. An important outcome of the last year is the 2021-2025 research project for NC-1030.  Co-chairs Drs. Manikowske and LeHew led the writing team to develop a proposal for the five-year project for NC 1030. Two manuscripts were submitted, three manuscripts were published this year, and three are in preparation. The manuscripts reported are collaborative across states. Specific accomplishments are summarized by the three project objectives  Objective 1. Identify and measure the sources of change and disruption that impact the family/household, the family firm or the community. Collaborative research by Johnson Jorgensen, Zuiker, Manikowske and LeHew forcused on the role of communication technologies of small business success. Owners and managers of small businesses tend to struggle to utilize online communicative technologies effectively. Businesses rely on technologies, but don’t find easy-to-use technologies to be useful in their retail establishments. They also find that business owners and managers who are younger, located in urban areas, and in business for a shorter time are also more likely to use communication technologies. Impact- Findings from this study are useful for small business owners, community government officials, business agencies, and other stakeholders. Results can also help guide entrepreneurship education, as it has been determined that technologies can help businesses be successful and serve entrepreneurs and communities. This research also serves as a foundation for future inquiry into how businesses can further benefit from using communicative technologies in their processes and practices. A manuscript has been submitted and is under review.  Objective 2. Identify and measure responses to the positive and negative impacts of change and disruption on the family/household, the family business, or the community. Four research activities completed this year focused on the responses and impacts of disruptions, specifically recovery after a natural disaster; adjustment strategies by small business owners at the start of the COVID 19 pandemic; and how government loan programs were implemented in response to COVID 19. Wiatt, Lee, Marshall, and Zuiker studied the effect of cash flow problems and interminingling of resources on the recovery and resilience of small businesses after a natural disaster.  This study investigated the implications that cash flow problems and resource intermingling between the family and the business had on small business recovery and resilience after a natural disaster, thus addressing the impacts of disruption to the family and household. This study contributed to the literature by studying the impact of cash flow problems and resource intermingling on small businesses in two separate periods: right after the natural disaster (period 1) and eight years after the disaster (period 2). Period 1 determined whether the business was in operation directly following Hurricane Katrina. Period 2 investigated success of the small business after Katrina (compared to pre-Katrina success). Results showed that cash flow problems and resource intermingling did not affect operational status directly following Katrina, but did play a role in business resilience in the long run. Impact -  Implications from this study can be utilized to inform practitioners, business consultants, and policy makers. These professionals can use the results from this study to advise family firms in intermingling, bootstrapping, and financial management during disruptive times, crises, and disasters.  An article was published in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues. Collaborative research from Purdue and University of Missouri (Drs. Marshall and Valdivia from NC 1030 and Dr. B. Katare from Purdue) focused on COVID-19 impacts and recovery of small businesses.  An online survey was developed and data collected in July 2020. Two journal articles were published this year. The research on small businesses focused on small business owner adaptive strategies and the effect of the CARES Act. The study provided early evidence on how small business owners were affected by COVID-19 and the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The online survey was completed by 463 small business owners, a representative sample from across the United States. The results from this research study will lead to a better understanding of key vulnerabilities and adjustments that small businesses make to fully recover from economic shocks. Haynes also conducted related research focused on the change in small business loans outstanding during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The financial stimulus provided by the CARES Act through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) had profound impacts on the market for business lending by depository institutions and others. While the value of outstanding loans greater than $1 million (large business loans) increased by 10%, the value of outstanding loans for loans less than $1 million (small business loans) increased by 39% in just 6 months. The largest share of the PPP funds was distributed through larger lenders; however, the most important question was which depository lenders “stepped up to the plate”.  The study finds that depository lenders with between $1 and 10 billion in total assets (mid-sized banks) “stepped up to the plate” and hit a home run by distributing 62% more funding than expected, and increasing their market share for small business loans by 16%.  For most small business borrowers, these loans have been and will likely be converted into grants and removed from the balance sheets of depository lenders.  Impact – this research examined the additional funding provided by depository lenders from December, 2019 through June, 2020. This research was important in assessing the additional funds supplied by large and small lenders through the PPP.  This paper is under review by the Office of Advocacy at the Small Business Administration. Niehm, Less Masuo and Shin are preparing a manuscript for submission focusing on the Survival of Family-owned business in rural and small communities, looking into the entrpreneurila and innovative responses to recessionary disiruption.   Wiatt, Sydnor, Marhall, Haynes, Valdivia Jasper and Zuiker collaborated in research on the impact of the family business culture and wellbeing. This research is on going into the new project. Day, Sydnor, Marshall and Noakes published on econotourism, regenerative tourism and the circular economy.  Objective 3: Determine and inform policy or practice related to family firms. Haynes, Marshall, Lee,  Zuiker, Jasper, Wiatt, Sydnor, Valdivia, Niehm, and Masuo published in 2021, Family Business Research: Reviewing the Past, Contemplating the Future. This review of a decade of research identified accomplishements and areas of further research. The review addressed four areas, household and business economics, business continuity and succession, managerial and adoption strategies, and values and goals. Future research opportunities for family business research should seek to better understand the impact of community resources and climate; more carefully assess the challenges of womenm, minorities and immpgrants; undertand the role of cultural capital,k and explore the impact of innovation during rapidly changing times, such as those created by the pandemic. Findings from the research by Wiatt et al 2021 inform professionals working with small firms after a natural disaster that more experienced small business owners were more likely to be resilient following Hurricane Katrina and that gender differences do exist within these small businesses. Also, following Hurricane Katrina, the largest factor that affected short-term recovery was major storm damage, not business finances and intermingling habits. Manuscripts Submitted (under review) Johnson Jorgensen, J., Zuiker, V., Manikowske, L., & LeHew, M. (In Review).  Impact of communication Technologies on Small Business Success.  Journal of Small Business Strategy. Manuscripts Under Development           Bassafar, A., Niehm, L.S. & Bosselman, R. Saudi Arabian women in entrepreneurship: Challenges, opportunities, and potential. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship. Niehm, L.S., Lee, Y., Masuo, D., & Shin, E. The Survival of Family-Owned Business in Rural and Small Communities: Entrepreneurial and Innovative Responses to Recessionary Disruption. (Preparing for submission to JFEI). Working Papers Sydnor, S. B., Marshall, M. I., Haynes, G. W., Valdivia, C. B., Jasper, C., Zuiker, V. S. (in process).  The Impact of Family Business Culture and Wellbeing (or Balance or Self-Care) on Functioning and Profitability Refereed Publications Katare, B., M.I. Marshall, and C.B. Valdivia. 2021. Bend or Break? Small Business Strategies and the CARES Act during the COVID-19 Shock. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102332">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102332</a>  (Objective 1) Day, J., S. Sydnor, M.I. Marshall, and S. Noakes. 2021. Ecotourism, Regenerative Tourism, and the Circular Economy: Emerging Trends and Ecotourism, Handbook for Ecotourism. Ed David Fennell. Routledge.  (Objective 2) Wiatt, R.D., Y. Lee, M.I. Marshall, and V. Zuiker. 2021. The Effect of Cash Flow Problems and Resource Intermingling on Business Recovery and Resilience after a Natural Disaster. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42: 203-214. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-020-09710-y">https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-020-09710-y</a>  (Objective 2) Haynes, G, M.I. Marshall, Y. Lee, V. Zuiker, C.R. Jasper, S. Sydnor, C. Valdivia, D. Masuo, L. Niehm, and R. Wiatt. 2020. Family Business Research: Reviewing the Past, Contemplating the Future. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-020-09732-6">https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-020-09732-6</a> (Objective 3) Katare, B., S. Zhao, J. Cuffey, M.I. Marshall, C. Valdivia. 2021. Preferences Toward COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Features: Results from a National Cross-Sectional Survey. American Journal of Health Promotion. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171211034093">https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171211034093</a>. (Objective 3) Manuscripts in Preparation Sydnor, S. B., Marshall, M. I., Haynes, G. W., Valdivia, C. B., Jasper, C., Zuiker, V. S. (in process). The Impact of Family Business Culture and Wellbeing (or Balance or Self-Care) on Functioning and Profitability (Objective 2)  Extension Publications Wiatt, R, Y. Lee, M.I. Marshall, V. S. Zuiker. 2020. Cash Flow Problems and Resource Intermingling: Do They Affect Small Business Recovery and Resilience in the Wake of a Natural Disaster? Purdue Agricultural Economics Report. October Issue. Department of Agricultural Economics. <a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/commercialag/home/paer-article/cash-flow-problems-and-resource-intermingling-do-they-affect-small-business-recovery-and-resilience-in-the-wake-of-a-natural-disaster/">https://ag.purdue.edu/commercialag/home/paer-article/cash-flow-problems-and-resource-intermingling-do-they-affect-small-business-recovery-and-resilience-in-the-wake-of-a-natural-disaster/</a> (objective 3)  Current Grants USDA-NIFA-AFRI: Rural Small Business Recovery and Resilience to Natural Hazards: A Focus on Women and Minority Owned Small Businesses, 2019-2022, $500,000, PI and Project Director, Co-PIs: B. Katare (Purdue) and C. Valdivia (University of Missouri). USDA-NIFA-AFRI: Taking the Next Step as a Small and Medium Sized Farm: Understanding the Integration of Production, Food Safety, and Profitability, 2021-2025, $500,000, PI and Project Director, Co-PIs: B. Feng (FS), P. Langenhoven (HLA), N. Shoaf (Urban Ag), and R. Wiatt (AGEC). SASA/World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Foundation: Proposal to Develop and Implement a Course on Business Plan Development for Elite Entrepreneurs from Developing and Emerging Markets, 2021, $101,221, PI and Project Director, Co-PI: R. Wiatt (Purdue) and J. Fulton (Purdue). Abstracts of Journal Articles from collaborative work with NC1030 members: Family business research: Reviewing the past, contemplating the future This paper reviews articles published in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues (JFEI) from 2010 to 2019 and considers future research opportunities. The JFEI articles utilize theories and conceptual frameworks from several social science fields, to help readers understand the importance of including both the family and business in any discussion of family businesses. The literature review addresses four family business topical areas: (1) household and business economics, (2) business continuity and succession, (3) managerial and adoption strategies, and (4) values and goals. These JFEI articles have focused on differentiating family businesses from other types of businesses; explaining the unique interface between the family and the business; and identifying the characteristics (i.e., demographics, adjustment strategies, continuity, capitals, and values and goals) for family business survival and success. In the future, family business researchers have the opportunity to better understand the impact of community resources and climate; more carefully assess the challenges of women, minorities, and immigrants; understand the role of cultural capital; and explore the impact of innovation during rapidly changing times, such as those created by the pandemic.   The Effect of Cash Flow Problems and Resource Intermingling on Small Business Recovery and Resilience After a Natural Disaster This study investigated the implications that cash flow problems and resource intermingling between the family and the business had on small business recovery and resilience after a natural disaster. This study contributed to the literature by studying the impact of cash flow problems and resource intermingling on small businesses in two separate periods: right after the natural disaster (period 1) and eight years after the disaster (period 2). Period 1 determined whether the business was in operation directly following Hurricane Katrina. Period 2 investigated success of the small business after Katrina (compared to pre-Katrina success). Results showed that cash flow problems and resource intermingling did not affect operational status directly following Katrina, but did play a role in business resilience in the long run. Bend or Break? Small Business Survival and Strategies during the COVID-19 Shock This manuscript studies the impact of the exogenous COVID-19 pandemic shock on small businesses in the United States. We provide early evidence on how small business owners were affected by COVID-19 and the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. We collected online survey data from a national sample of 463 small business owners across the United States. The survey was conducted in June 2020, eight weeks after the passage of the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. The survey data include information about business characteristics, financial well-being, current response to the crisis, beliefs about the future of their business survival, and the business-owning family demographic information. There are three main themes that emerge from the results. First, drivers of income loss were not necessarily associated with time to recovery. Second, businesses that were undercapitalized were more likely to suffer higher income loss, longer time to recovery, and less likely to be resilient. Resilient was operationalized as a scale merging perceived success, potential for growth, and perceived profitability. Third, business model changes were necessary due to the pandemic but not all adaptive strategies led to better business outcomes. The results from this research study will lead to a better understanding of key vulnerabilities and adjustments that small businesses make to fully recover from economic shocks. Preferences toward COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Features: Results from a National Cross-Sectional Survey Widespread COVID-19 diagnostic testing is necessary to guide public health policies and speed economic recovery from the pandemic.1 For mass COVID-19 diagnostic testing to succeed in the U.S., individuals must be willing to regularly undergo a test. Tests can be taken in different locations using different methods, and participation can be motivated with monetary incentives.2 Preferences toward these testing features may influence individuals’ willingness to test (WTT). Individual preferences predict preventive behavior in a range of other contexts3,4 and may therefore influence the success of any COVID-19 testing campaign. There is currently little knowledge about the COVID-19 testing features that individuals prioritize. This study elicits preferences for COVID-19 diagnostic testing features (method, location, and monetary incentive) using a discrete choice experiment and simulates the impact of monetary incentives on individual WTT. Ecotourism, Regenerative Tourism, and the Circular Economy: Emerging Trends and Ecotourism Ecotourism organizations have often been at the cutting edge of new trends in sustainability. They were among the first tourism organization adopting sustainability, they have developed techniques to operationalize key principles and have been quick to adopt new techniques to achieve their objectives. This chapter will examine three trends that seem likely to influence tourism in the coming years. These three interrelated trends are the rise of the circular economy, the emerging focus on regenerative tourism, and the regenerative recovery. Each of these concepts is closely aligned with ecotourism principles and, while some ecotourism may already apply these principles, each provides new opportunities for ecotourism products to improve their operational effectiveness. Keeping the Farm Business in the Family: The Case of Farm and Non-Farm Family Businesses in Midwestern United States Succession planning is a very crucial aspect of family business continuity. The successful transition of family businesses is especially important for small and medium scale family businesses which constitute the beginning phase of most businesses. This paper explores two critical aspects of succession planning namely the decision to keep business ownership within the family, and the transfer-readiness of family businesses. This study assessed potential correlates of these two constructs using data from small and medium scale farm and non-farm businesses in Midwest US.  Results from a probit estimator showed that farm businesses were more likely to be kept within the family (p<0.01). For the full sample, the number of generations involved in daily management, the readiness of the senior management to delegate control, and the owner experience were also found to be good correlates of the decision to keep the business within the family. For farms, we also found some correlation between the perception of the business as being successful and the decision to keep the business in the family (p<0.1). Results from the probit and bivariate probit models showed that capital, and the number of generations in management are the most consistent correlates of transfer readiness for the full and farm samples. Finally, we found that female owners of farm businesses were less likely to be ready for business transfers than their male counterparts (p<0.01). Impact of Communication Technologies on Small Business Success.  Business owners and managers of small businesses tend to struggle to utilize online communication technologies effectively. To investigate the role of communication technologies in small businesses, the purpose of this study was to determine the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use for online communication technologies and how those perceptions relate to business success.  The Small Business Values Survey was used to access data from 522 business owners, and an integrated model using the Diffusion of Innovation and the Technology Acceptance Model was used as a theoretical foundation. Relationships between variables were tested using multiple regression and confirmed that small business owners and managers find that easy-to-use communication technologies are not perceived to be useful or contribute to business success. However, communication technologies that are perceived to be useful do contribute to business success. Business owners and managers who are younger, located in urban areas, and in business for a shorter time are also more likely to use communication technologies. This study contributes to current literature, as it was unclear how small business owners and managers perceive communication technologies for use in their businesses. Abstracts from collaborative research in NC1030: Under review: --Not Yet Accepted—Submitted to Journal of Small Business Strategy; July 2021 Title: Impact of Communication Technologies on Small Business Success Authors: Johnson Jorgensen, J., Zuiker, V., Manikowske, L., & Lehew, M. Abstract: Business owners and managers of small businesses tend to struggle to utilize online communication technologies effectively. To investigate the role of communication technologies in small businesses, the purpose of this study was to determine the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use for online communication technologies and how those perceptions relate to business success.  The Small Business Values Survey was used to access data from 522 business owners, and an integrated model using the Diffusion of Innovation and the Technology Acceptance Model was used as a theoretical foundation. Relationships between variables were tested using multiple regression and confirmed that small business owners and managers find that easy-to-use communication technologies are not perceived to be useful or contribute to business success. However, communication technologies that are perceived to be useful do contribute to business success. Business owners and managers who are younger, located in urban areas, and in business for a shorter time are also more likely to use communication technologies. This study contributes to current literature, as it was unclear how small business owners and managers perceive communication technologies for use in their businesses.

Publications

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 10/07/2022

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/06/2022 - 10/07/2022
Period the Report Covers: 09/01/2022 - 10/31/2022

Participants

Michael Cheang (University of Hawaii), Sonali Diddi (Colorado State University), Debanjan Das (University of West Virginia), Kelsie Doty (Kansas State University), George Haynes (Montana State University), Cynthia Jasper (University of Wisconsin), Jennifer Johnson Jorgensen (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), Yoon Lee (Utah State University), Melody LeHew (Kansas State University), Srikant (Sri) Manchiraju (Florida State University), Maria Marshall (Purdue University), Linda Niehm (Iowa State University), Sandra Sydnor (Purdue University), Corinne Valdivia (University of Missouri), Anne Visser (UC Davis), Renee Wiatt (Purdue University), Virginia S. Zuiker (University of Minnesota).

Brief Summary of Minutes

This year the NC1030 Annual Meeting took place at Colorado State University, hosted by Dr. Sonali Diddi, October 6 and 7. State representatives were present either in person or virtually. On October 6, day one (8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) there were introductions by NC1030 co-chairs Sydnor and Zuiker, welcoming new members from Florida State University, Kansas State University, and West Virginia University. In the business portion of the annual meeting, the group discussed possible sites for future annual meeting locations (California, Hawaii, Florida, Iowa, Colorado, Nebraska) and it was decided that Nebraska would host our 2023 annual meeting. Both Drs. Sydnor and Zuiker agreed to serve as cochairs for 2023. Due to the retirement of our past secretary Dr. Linda Manikowske of North Dakota, we elected a new secretary Dr. Srikant (Sri) Manchiraju from Florida. Dr. Manchiraju presented on Bibliometric Analysis and a brainstorming session followed on how this type of analysis could be used by the NC1030 members. Dr. Matt Hickey, Associate Dean for Research College of Health and Human Sciences, welcomed the multistate research group to Colorado State University. The remaining of Day 1 focused on collaborative works (presentation submission proposals) for the upcoming United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) conference that will be held in Florida in 2023, along with working on a North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) research proposal, and manuscript writing plans. Much of this work centers on the five themes identified from the multistate research group which include: 1) Rural Small Business Recovery and Resilience to Natural Hazards; 2) Sustainable and Resilient SMEs in a Regenerative Fiber and Food System; 3) Entrepreneurial and Innovative Response to Disruption and System Shocks by Family-Owned SMEs; 4) Contributions of Socioemotional Wealth, Rurality, Collaboration and Race on Resilience and Success of Family-Owned SMEs; and 5) Impact of Transgenerational Control and Transfer within Family Businesses on Resilience and Recovery. Day two began with a presentation from Dr. Abigail Borron, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication, at the University of Georgia on Community Diagnostics + Social Impact ToolkitTM (CD+SI) and was followed by a discussion of how to incorporate this new knowledge into the current works of the multistate research team. A welcome message and presentation was given by Dr. Eugene Kelley, Deputy Director, Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station highlighting the work of Colorado Agricultural Extension and its impact to the state along with highlighting the diversity and national scope of the members of NC-1030. A third presentation highlighted Colorado success story of a local business owner Ms. Elizabeth Mozer, cofounder of LoCo. She discussed with the group how the company started and the challenges they overcame during the global pandemic. Following these presentations, the remaining day was spent with the members gathering in groups to continue working on their USASBE proposals, the NCRCRD proposal, and continue collaboration on manuscripts that the groups had been working on so these manuscripts can be submitted to refereed journal publications for review. As the groups worked, they kept the 5 themes in mind while incorporating the three objectives: Objective 1: Identify and measure the sources of major change and disruption and the structural barriers that impact the family/household, the business, or the community; Objective 2: Identify and measure transformative responses to the positive and negative impacts of change and disruption on the family/household, the business, or the community; and Objective 3: Determine and inform policy or practice related to the wellbeing of the family, the business, or the community.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments by NC 1030 Research Objectives (2021-2022): The NC1030 research team met every other month virtually to share and discuss on-going research activities. These meetings also informed the research team of current and upcoming research projects. Smaller groups met throughout the year to discuss on-going research and to progress with the work begun on manuscripts. During 2021-2022, three manuscripts were published, two manuscripts were submitted, one book chapter was published, three peer-reviewed extension publications were published, three grants were awarded, one grant was submitted, and there were three conference presentations. One grant proposal is in preparation, three conference presentations ideas were submitted, and four manuscripts are in preparation. The research works reported are collaborative across states. Specific accomplishments are represented by the three project objectives which are derivatives of the five themes. NC 1030: Five Themes 1) Rural Small Business Recovery and Resilience to Natural Hazards; 2) Sustainable and Resilient SMEs in a Regenerative Fiber and Food System; 3) Entrepreneurial and Innovative Response to Disruption and System Shocks by Family-Owned SMEs; 4) Contributions of Socioemotional Wealth, Rurality, Collaboration and Race on Resilience and Success of Family-Owned SMEs and 5) Impact of Transgenerational Control and Transfer within Family Businesses on Resilience and Recover. Objective 1. Identify and measure the sources of major change and disruption and the structural barriers that impact the family/household, the business, or the community. Johnson Jorgensen, Zuiker, Manikowske and LeHew studied the role of communication technologies of small business success. Owners and managers of small businesses tend to struggle to utilize online communicative technologies effectively. Businesses rely on technologies, but don’t find easy-to-use technologies to be useful in their retail establishments. Findings suggest that 1) easy-to-use communication technologies are not useful and do not contribute to business success, 2) useful communication technologies are considered to contribute to business success, and 3) new owners that are younger and located in urban areas are more likely to use communication technologies. Results from this study will help guide small business owners and retail managers to focus on learning useful technologies for their specific needs, and not spend time using many easy-to-use technologies that may drain time and resources. Impacts include insight into how small businesses can use “useful” communication technologies efficiently within their operations, without wasting time and other resources. An article was published in the Journal of Small Business Strategy. Katare, Marshall, and Valdivia examined how small business owners were affected by COVID-19 and the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. They collected online survey data from a national sample of 463 small business owners across the United States. The survey was conducted in June 2020, eight weeks after the passage of the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. The survey data included information about business characteristics, financial well-being, current response to the crisis, beliefs about the future of their business survival, and the business-owning family demographic information. There were three main themes that emerge from the results. First, drivers of income loss were not necessarily associated with time to recovery. Second, businesses that were undercapitalized were more likely to suffer higher income loss, longer time to recovery, and less likely to be resilient. Resilient was operationalized as a scale merging perceived success, potential for growth, and perceived profitability. Third, business model changes were necessary due to the pandemic but not all adaptive strategies led to better business outcomes. The results from this research study will lead to a better understanding of key vulnerabilities and adjustments that small businesses make to fully recover from economic shocks. Impacts-- their findings showed that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was not the same for all small businesses. Thus, a need for policy makers to take this aspect into account and that these small businesses also differ by gender and race. Additionally, small businesses benefitted from having cash infusions as demand decreased and they needed to invest in different business models. An article was published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. Colleagues from the universities of Minnesota and Missouri collaborated on research that examines the subjective well-being of Latinxs in the Midwest. The manuscript is under review. Objective 2. Identify and measure transformative responses to the positive and negative impacts of change and disruption on the family/household, the business, or the community. Scholars from Kansas State University, Colorado State University, Iowa State University, The Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota, Purdue University, University of Nebraska, University of West Virginia, Utah State University, University of California-Davis, and Florida State University are developing a proposal for submission to the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) under the funding priority area “Creating Resilient Communities and Economies”. The overarching questions to be addressed by the research group include: How resilient are current SMEs based in rural communities? What characteristics enable them to proactively respond to major disruptions? How might SMEs and rural communities transform to not only survive, but thrive in an unknowable future? Specifically, our future research products will focus on investigating how business practices transform into sustainable and resilient systems that can support a regenerative fiber and food system that enhances well-being of families, communities, and eco-systems. The funding request will be for three years to cover team development and meetings, preliminary data collection, other activities facilitating multi-state collaboration leading to outputs (i.e., research publications, Extension curricula, external funding). The proposal will be submitted in spring 2023 to NCRCRD. If funded, work will begin in summer 2023 and continue for a three-year period. Colleagues from the universities of Minnesota, Purdue, Montana, and Utah State continue their collaboration on a manuscript focusing on whether business with COVID-related impact have higher business income losses than other firms without cash flow challenges. This manuscript uses data from the 2021 Small Business Disaster. Colleagues from the universities of Minnesota, Hawaii, Purdue, and Missouri continue efforts on a manuscript focusing on factors that contribute to subjective well-being utilizing a COVID data set that was collected at the beginning of the pandemic. Objective 3: Determine and inform policy or practice related to the wellbeing of the family, the business, or the community. Researchers from Purdue University, University of Kentucky, Auburn University, and the University of Missouri described preferences toward COVID-19 testing features. The online survey was conducted in June 2020 and used cross-sectional data. They collected data from a national sample of 1,505 Qualtrics panel respondents to be representative of the adult U.S. population over gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, income, and Census region. Findings indicated that saliva tests were preferred to nasal tests most of time, preference to at-home testing and drive thru testing versus testing at a hospital or clinic, and that substantial monetary incentives led to only small gains for testing avoiders while monetary incentives helped overcome the dislike for convenience seekers. Impacts—their findings suggest that incentives may be used for contact tracing and can contribute to reducing transmission rates. An article was published in the Journal of Health Promotion. Researchers from Purdue Missouri, Montana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota universities continue to examine how profitability and functionality are affected by work-family balance, adjustment strategies, policies in place to achieve balance, family business status. Findings suggest the average, family-owned businesses perform better than non-family businesses along several dimensions including strategic decision-making and profitability, in part due to aversion to risk that may damage family wealth and long-term planning horizons (Larraz, Gené, & Figueras, 2019). One way of understanding the business and relationship dynamic in family-owning businesses was addressed by Stafford et al. (1999) in their Sustainable Family Business Model (SFBM) mentioned earlier which provides the capacity to explore the interface between the family and the business. The Three-Circle Model approach (Taqiuri & Davis, 1982) and socio emotional wealth (SEW) of families is specified as a lever of competitive advantage. Results should make an important contribution to the family business literature by suggesting that family businesses have higher family and business functionality, but similar profitably as non-family businesses. Policies that reinforce business practices related to family wellbeing variables in this research will be championed and widely disseminated. Colleagues from the universities of Purdue, Minnesota, Nebraska, University of Wisconsin, and University of California-Davis continue efforts on a manuscript focusing on the perceptions of wealth and well-being of (diverse) family-owned businesses utilizing a COVID data set that was collected at the beginning of the pandemic. Scholars from Utah State University and Purdue University submitted a manuscript that uses data from the 2019 Small Business Values Survey (SBVS) to examine differences between copreneurial and nonconpreneurial small business owners. The manuscript provides important insights into the areas in which copreneurs struggle in their work-life balance as well as insights into why this business model appears to outperform other business models. Collaborators from Utah State University and Purdue University are working on a manuscript that utilizes data from the 2019 Small Business Values (SBVS). They investigated factors associated with small business owners behaving as compulsive workers. Their findings suggest that a healthy work-life balance is imperative for small business owner well-being and business functionality as much stands to be lost in the wake of workaholism. Plans are to submit their manuscript to a refereed journal. Researchers from Utah State University and Purdue University are working on a manuscript that utilizes data from the 2019 Small Business Values (SBVS) and examined the succession planning expectations among women-owned small businesses, while focusing on how succession planning expectations differed by gender. They found that women owners were more likely to expect to give their businesses to family successors compared to men owners, whereas men owners were much more likely to sell their businesses to family successors than women owners. Plans are to submit their manuscript to a refereed journal. Collaborators from Utah State University and Purdue University are working on a manuscript that utilizes data from the 2019 Small Business Values (SBVS). They are focusing on the role that social media and internet use plays in the perceived business success among small business owners. Their findings suggest that business owners who reported their company’s use of social media as important to the success of their business were more likely to report higher levels of business profitability. Plans are to submit their manuscript to a refereed journal. Researchers from Utah State University and Purdue University are working on a manuscript that utilizes data from the 2019 Small Business Values (SBVS) and explores the impact of socioemotional wealth on the intention to use four different exit strategies by small business owners. The findings of this study imply that family and non-family small business owners with high socioemotional wealth would choose exit strategies that preserve the continued existence of the firm. Plans are to submit their manuscript to a refereed journal. Collaborators from Utah State University, Purdue University, University of Missouri, Colorado State University, and Kansas State University are working on a proposal to present at the 2023 US Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Conference. This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on small business owners’ adjustment strategies and their associated outcomes. Abstracts (selected) of Journal Articles from collaborative work with NC1030 members: Keeping the Farm Business in the Family: The Case of Farm and Non-Farm Family Businesses in the Midwestern United States Abstract Succession planning is a very crucial aspect of family business continuity. The successful transition of family businesses is especially important for small and medium scale family businesses which constitute the beginning phase of most businesses. This paper explores two critical aspects of succession planning namely the decision to keep business ownership within the family, and the transfer-readiness of family businesses. This study assessed potential correlates of these two constructs using data from small and medium scale farm and non-farm businesses in Midwest US.  Results from a probit estimator showed that farm businesses were more likely to be kept within the family (p<0.01). For the full sample, the number of generations involved in daily management, the readiness of the senior management to delegate control, and the owner experience were also found to be good correlates of the decision to keep the business within the family. For farms, we also found some correlation between the perception of the business as being successful and the decision to keep the business in the family (p<0.1). Results from the probit and bivariate probit models showed that capital, and the number of generations in management are the most consistent correlates of transfer readiness for the full and farm samples. Finally, we found that female owners of farm businesses were less likely to be ready for business transfers than their male counterparts (p<0.01). Impact of communication technologies on small business success Abstract Owners of small businesses may struggle to utilize online communication technologies effectively. To understand this challenge, this study investigated communication technology contributions, the use of online communication technologies, and how those perceptions relate to small business success. Data from a small business values survey (Marshall & Wyatt, 2019) was used consisting of 511 business owners. An integrated model using the Diffusion of Innovation and the Technology Acceptance Model served as a theoretical foundation. Relationships between variables were tested using multiple regression and confirmed that small business owners perceive that easy-to-use communication technologies are not useful or contribute to business success. However, communication technologies that are perceived to be useful do contribute to business success. Business owners who are younger, located in urban areas, and in business for a shorter time are also more likely to use communication technologies. This study supports current literature, as it was unclear how small business owners perceive communication technologies for use in their businesses (Jorgensen et al., 2022, p. 142). Management and Ownership Transfer in Small and Medium Family Farms Abstract Purpose: This study investigated the succession process in small and medium family farms as two distinct but related processes of management transfer and ownership transfer. Past studies focused on the broad subject of succession, without dissecting succession into the components that it contains. Further, this study aimed to evaluate which business, family, and owner characteristics were significant in progressing each process towards the actual transfer of management and ownership. Design/methodology/approach: Telephone interviews were conducted to gather information from rural family businesses in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. A bivariate ordered probit regression was utilized to model the processes of management and ownership transfer as separate but related processes. Both management transfer and ownership transfer were modeled utilizing three distinct stages of transfer. Findings: Business and owner characteristics were significant to both management and ownership transfer, whereas family characteristics only influenced ownership transfer. Farm family businesses that discussed goals, identified a successor, and were educated on how to start the transfer process were more likely to have made progress in both management and ownership transfer. Originality: We contribute empirically to the literature by modeling the components of the succession process, management transfer and ownership transfer, as separate but interrelated processes. We specifically investigate which business, owner, and family characteristics influence the progression of management and ownership transfer in farm family businesses. Love of Work or Love and Work: Does Small Business Owner Compulsion to Work Pay Off? Abstract A business owner’s compulsion to work is a condition that can have jarring effects on business-owning families. A compulsion to work has been defined as a component of workaholism, which includes a set of behaviors that drive a business owner to work. A random sample of 483 small business owners in the United States were classified as “compulsive owners” and “non-compulsive owners” using cluster analysis. A logit regression was used to determine the characteristics that influence small business owners to behave as compulsive owners. The probability of being a compulsive owner was lower for female owners, higher as number of children in the house increased, and was inversely related to family/business functioning. Further analysis to determine if compulsive owners had higher business incomes than non-compulsive owners, found that compulsive owners did not have higher business incomes. Thus, a compulsion to work did not pay off for small business owners. Small Business Recovery: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina and the COVID-19 Pandemic Abstract We explore the lessons learned from small business recovery from Hurricane Katrina that occurred over a decade ago and the recent COVID-19 Pandemic. Data used are from a 2013 survey of small businesses in Mississippi impacted by Hurricane Katrina and a 2020 survey of small businesses during the Coronavirus Pandemic. The Hurricane Katrina data consist of a sample size of 499 small businesses interviewed in 2013. The COVID-19 data were collected in 2020 and consist of 463 small businesses. The results show that financial comingling can have short-term benefits but long-term detrimental effects. The results also indicate that not only does business size matter, but also that direct-to-consumer businesses are more vulnerable to decreased demand by consumers. Finally, for both types of disaster, U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans seem to have the highest effect on small business recovery. Bend or Break? Small Business Survival and Strategies during the COVID-19 Shock Abstract  This manuscript studies the impact of the exogenous COVID-19 pandemic shock on small businesses in the United States. We provide early evidence on how small business owners were affected by COVID-19 and the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. We collected online survey data from a national sample of 463 small business owners across the United States. The survey was conducted in June 2020, eight weeks after the passage of the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. The survey data include information about business characteristics, financial well-being, current response to the crisis, beliefs about the future of their business survival, and the business-owning family demographic information. There are three main themes that emerge from the results. First, drivers of income loss were not necessarily associated with time to recovery. Second, businesses that were undercapitalized were more likely to suffer higher income loss, longer time to recovery, and less likely to be resilient. Resilient was operationalized as a scale merging perceived success, potential for growth, and perceived profitability. Third, business model changes were necessary due to the pandemic but not all adaptive strategies led to better business outcomes. The results from this research study will lead to a better understanding of key vulnerabilities and adjustments that small businesses make to fully recover from economic shocks. Work-Family Balance and Perceived Business Outcomes Among Copreneurial and Non-copreneurial Small Business Owners (Objective 3) Abstract Using data from the 2019 Small Business Values Survey (SBVS), we investigated differences between copreneur (n = 195) and noncopreneur (n = 303) small business owners (N = 498) in the United States. Specifically, we looked at differences in work-family balance characteristics, business characteristics, and owner characteristics between copreneurial and noncopreneurial small businesses. We found that copreneurs were significantly more likely than noncopreneurs to report conflicts about decisions related to their work and family lives and were also more likely to report negative work-to-family spillover and negative family-to-work spillover. However, using a logistic regression, we found that copreneurs were more likely than noncopreneurs to report perceiving the business as successful and profitable. Looking at a subsample of only copreneurs, we found that various work-family balance characteristics, business characteristics, and owner characteristics were significantly associated with the likelihood of perceiving the business as successful or profitable. Implications and suggestions for future research are offered. Succession Planning Expectations among Women-Owned Small Businesses (Objective 3) Abstract Succession planning is an important consideration for small business owners. Using the 2019 Small Business Values Survey (Marshall & Wiatt, 2019), we investigated how succession planning differed by gender. We limited the sample size to owners of businesses with fewer than 100 employees, resulting in a sample size of N = 477 participants, 53.9% of which were women and 46.1% of them were men. Our analysis showed that there were significant differences between the succession intentions of men and women. We found that women owners were more likely to expect to give their businesses to family successors (54.5%) compared to men owners (45.5%), whereas men owners were much more likely to sell their businesses to family successors (64.1%) than women owners (35.9%). Women owners were much more likely to liquate the business assets (64.4%) than men owners (35.6%). There was little difference between men (48.8%) and women (51.2%) business owners in selling the business to someone outside of the family. Analyzing only the women in our sample (n = 257), we identified several significant differences based on owner demographic characteristics and business characteristics. we found that older women owners were more likely to liquidate the business but less likely to sell the business to someone outside of the family when compared to younger women owners. Racial/ethnic minority women were less likely liquidate the business compared to White women. Regarding education, women owners with lower levels of education were less likely to sell the business to someone outside of the family when compared to highly educated women owners. Moving to business characteristics, women owners with more employees were less likely to liquidate the business than those with fewer employees. Family-owned business owners were less likely to liquidate the business assets and they were more likely to sell the business to a family successor compared to nonfamily-owned business owners. Women who were the sole owner of the business were less likely to sell the business to a family successor than women with other ownership types. Those who were owners of home-based businesses were less likely to sell the business to someone outside the family compared to those who owned non-homebased businesses. Women who owned businesses in the service industry were more likely to sell the business to a family successor than those in other industries. Women who perceived their businesses as being successful were less likely to sell the business to someone outside of the family than those who had lower perceptions of the success of their businesses. Abstracts- Published in 2022 PIFB Quarterly Newsletters Social Media Use and Business Profitability Among Small Businesses (Objective 3) Abstract The internet has transformed the way we do business. Social media in particular has expanded our social networks and increased the ease in which we can connect with others, both friends and strangers. Using data from the 2019 Small Business Value Survey (Marshall & Wiatt, 2019), we investigated the role of social media in explaining the performance of small businesses. In particular, this study examined what types of social media small business owners are using to promote their business. This study investigated how owners’ perceptions of social media was associated with their business profitability. We looked specifically at small business owners with fewer than 100 employees, resulting in a sample of 477 participants. The descriptive results showed that the most common social media platform used was Facebook (71.3%) followed by Instagram (46.6%), Twitter (37.7%), Pinterest (21.2%), and other social media platforms (9.2%). These numbers suggest that many businesses rely on multiple social media platforms. Despite the importance of social media for many businesses, our results indicated that 19.3% of small businesses did not use any type of social media for their business. Regression analyses indicated that, all else being equal, business owners who reported their company’s use of social media as important to the success of their business were more likely to report higher levels of business profitability. On the other hand, as business owners perceived maintaining their company’s online presence as a problem, they reported lower levels of business profitability. These results suggest that utilizing social media and building a strong online presence can lead to increased profitability in small businesses. Perhaps more importantly, we highlight the role of perceptions in these results. Specifically, developing positive views of social media as an avenue for business promotion may increase small businesses’ profitability. Training and education for small business owners on the benefits and effective approaches to using social media is needed. More research is needed in this area. The use of communication technologies in small businesses.  Abstract Small businesses may be more resilient if certain technologies are adopted (Gomes, 2015), especially during times of disruption. An online small business values survey (Marshall & Wiatt, 2019) was used to collect data from U.S. business owners in 2019. A final sample of 511 (response rate of 58.40%) was acquired. Findings show that a large majority of small business owners found that the internet had extremely impacted their business. Similarly, a large majority of small business owners stated that the internet had a positive impact on the business. Additionally, a large majority of them also felt that online activities were important for their business success and that maintain an online presence was not a problem. Abstracts - Conference Presentation Give, Sell, or Liquidate: The Effect of Socioemotional Wealth on Small Business Owner Exit Intentions (Objective 3) Abstract Small business owner exit intentions have been studied mostly as dichotomous stay or go strategies (DeTienne & Cardon, 2012; Gimeno et al., 1997; Wennberg & DeTienne, 2014). However, business owners have many different paths to exit the businesses they founded. Recent literature has focused on the impact of owner age and experience, business financial health, and business size on exit intentions (DeTienne & Cardon, 2012). There is scant literature focused on the effect of socioemotional wealth on exit intention and exit strategies of small business owners. We contribute to the literature by examining the impact of socioemotional wealth on the intention to use four different exit strategies. A multinomial logit model is used where the exit strategies are 1) give business to family, 2) sell business to family, 3) sell to nonfamily, or 4) liquidate. The data are from a national survey of 477 U.S. small business owners of businesses with less than 100 employees. Results indicate that business owners with high socioemotional wealth are more likely to give or sell their businesses rather than liquidate. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) business owners are also more likely to give or sell their businesses rather than liquidate compared to their White counterparts. Family business owners are more likely to give or sell their businesses to family than to sell to outsiders or liquidate. Our results imply that family and non-family small business owners with high socioemotional wealth will choose exit strategies that preserve the continued existence of the firm. Research Project – In Process In the Depths of Despair: Lost Income and Recovery for Small Businesses During COVID-19 (Objectives 1, 2, & 3) Abstract Brief Summary. This study examines whether business with COVID-related impact have higher business income losses than other firms. This study also examines whether businesses with cash flow challenges before the COVID-19 pandemic are more likely to experience more income loss due to the pandemic than businesses without cash flow challenges. This study further investigates whether increasing lost income with funding strategies are strategies to help people pay bills and get through the disaster, not increasing their income.  Finally, this study investigates borrowing from family and friends as an alternative funding. The findings of this study will provide implications for small business owners and consultants working with small business owners who were experienced hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Research Project – Currently Working Family Adjustment Strategies in Homebased Businesses During COVID-19 (Objectives 1, 2, & 3) Abstract This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on small business owners’ adjustment strategies. The main objectives of this study were to explore the adjustment strategies employed by owners of small family firms during COVID-19 and to compare their use of adjustment strategies between homebased businesses (HBBs) and non-homebased businesses (NHBBs). Tentative research questions include: RQ1) Did the amount of distress experoemced die tp COVID-19 differ between homebased businesses (HBBs) and non-homebased businesses (NHBBs)?, RQ2) During COVID-19, were there significant differences in the adoption of adjustment strategies between homebased businesses (HBBs) and non-homebased businesses (NHBBs)? There could be significant differences in the adoption of adjustment strategies between homebased businesses (HBBs) and non-homebased businesses (NHBBs). The major findings of this study will provide important implications for business consultants and educators working with homebased business owners.

Publications

Jorgensen, J. J., Zuiker, V. S., Manikowske, L., & LeHew, M. (2022). Impact of communication technologies on small business success. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 32(3), 142-157. Katare, B., M.I. Marshall, C.B. Valdivia. 2021. Bend or Break? Small Business Strategies and the CARES Act during the COVID-19 Shock. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction JIF 4.32 SNIP 1.756 <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102332">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102332</a> Katare, B., S. Zhao, J. Cuffey, M.I. Marshall, C. Valdivia. 2022. Preferences toward COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Features: Results from a National Cross-Sectional Survey. American Journal of Health Promotion, 36(1): 185-189. JIF 2.87  <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F08901171211034093">https://doi.org/10.1177%2F08901171211034093</a> Torres, A.B., M.S. Delgado, and M.I. Marshall. 2021 The Economic Implications of Social Capital on Hispanic Entrepreneurship. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 31(3): 72-87. Edobor, E.W. and M.I. Marshall. 2021. Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and Man: How Disasters Impact Firm Births in the USA. Natural Hazards, 107 (1): 395-421. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-021-04588-x">https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-021-04588-x</a>   JIF 3.656 SNIP 1.31 Edobor, E.W., R. Wiatt, and M.I. Marshall. 2021. Keeping the Farm Business in the Family: The Case of Farm and Non-Farm Family Businesses in the Midwestern United States. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review. DOI: 10.22434/IFAMR2020.0138 Day, J. S. Sydnor, M.I. Marshall, and S. Noakes. 2021. Ecotourism, Regenerative Tourism, and the Circular Economy: Emerging Trends and Ecotourism, Handbook for Ecotourism. Ed David Fennell. Routledge. Wiatt, R.D., M.I. Marshall, and R. Musselman. 2022. Management and Ownership Transfer in Small and Medium Family Farms. Agricultural Finance Review, 82(3): 505-521. Marshall, M.I., Katare, B., and Valdivia, C.B. Small Business Recovery: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina and the Coronavirus Pandemic. Handbook on the Economics of Disasters. Book Chapter. Norton, A., Kim, H-Y., & Zuiker, V. S. (Accepted). Consumer embeddedness and motivations for farmers market patronage: A qualitative exploration in Minnesota, USA. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension. Book Chapters Marshall, M.I., B. Katare, and C.B. Valdivia. (2022). Small Business Recovery: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina and the Coronavirus Pandemic. In. M. Skidmore (Ed), Handbook on the Economics of Disasters. Routledge. Manuscripts Submitted (under review) Lee, Y., H. Kelley, R. Wiatt, and M.I. Marshall. Work-Family Balance and Perceived Business Outcomes Among Copreneurial and Noncopreneurial Small Business Owners. Journal of Family and Economic Issues. September 2022. Valdivia, A., A. Morales, O. F. Rojas Perez, L. Y. Flores, V. Zuiker. (under review) Latinos and Latinas Subjective wellbeing in Midwestern Non-Metro Towns. Submitted to Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, April, 2022 Sorensen, K.  & Johnson Jorgensen, J. (In Revision).  Millennial Perceptions of Private Label and National Brand Clothing: An Exploration of Clothing Preferences Using Q Methodology. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management. Spilinek, M. & Johnson Jorgensen, J. (In Review).  Creepy or Convenient?: Consumer Perceptions of Privacy and Ad Exposure on Social Media. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. Johnson Jorgensen, J., & Sorensen, K. (In Review). Millennial Perceptions of Augmented Reality in Retail: A Q Methodology Study.  International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management. Lee, J. M., & Zuiker, V. S. (In Review). Exploring financial capability and the self-employed: Focusing on financial education. Manuscripts Under Development Cheang, M., Valdivia, C. B., Zuiker, V. S., Bhagryashree, K., & Martinez Palomares, J. C. (Manuscript in Preparation). Resilience and coping strategies during COVID-19 for small business owners and non-small business owners. Sydnor, S. B., Marshall, M. I., Haynes, G. W., Valdivia, C. B., Jasper, C., Zuiker, V. S. (in process). The Impact of Family Business Culture and Wellbeing (or Balance or Self-Care) on Functioning and Profitability. Sydnor, S., Zuiker, V.S., Jorgensen, J.J., Jasper, C., and Visser, M.A.  Wealth & well-being: Perceptions from family-owned and diverse businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wiatt, R. D., Marshall, M. I., Haynes, G., Zuiker, V. S., & Lee, Y. (Manuscript in Preparation). In the depths of despair: Lost income and recovery for small businesses during COVID-19. Grants Awarded Clare, G., Johnson Jorgensen, J., Lee, J., Manikowske, L., LeHew, M., & Lyons, N. (2021). Merchandising Program Industry Advisory Board.  Great Plains Interactive Distance Alliance.  Funded: $5,860.00 Clare, G., Johnson Jorgensen, J., Lee, J., Manikowske, L., LeHew, M., & Lyons, N. (2021). Synchronous Online Recruiting Event Proposal.  Great Plains Interactive Distance Alliance.  Funded: $7,595.00  Johnson Jorgensen, J. (2021).  Diversity and Equity in Merchandising the Omnichannel Product Assortment and Retail Workspace.  Center for Transformative Teaching Incubation Fund.  Funded: $975.60  Marshall, M., Katare, B. and Valdivia, C. (6/2019-5/2022). USDA-NIFA-AFRI: Rural Small Business Recovery and Resilience to Natural Hazards: A Focus on Women and Minority Owned Small Businesses. Funded: $499,999.84 Feng, B. Langenhoven, P., Shoaf, N. and Wiatt, R. (2022). USDA-NIFA-AFRI: Taking the Next Step as a Small and Medium Sized Farm: Understanding the Integration of Production, Food Safety, and Profitability. Funded: $500,000 Wiatt, R., Torres, A., Marshall, M., Langemeier, M., Nees, J., Farris, E., Heckaman, K., and Mandeville, K. (2021-2022).  North Central Extension Risk Management Education. “The Pillars of Contingency Planning: An Integrated Approach to Managing Risk for Farms and Agribusinesses”. Funded: $50,000. INDIANA AUTHORS? USDA-NIFA-AFRI: Workplace Stressors, Conflict Resolution, Worker Productivity: A Field Experiment on Employee Wellness Training Program in Rural Small Businesses, $500,000, Co-PI. Diddi, S., LeHew, M. L. A., Hiller Connell, K. Y., & Yan, L. (2022). Preparing Fiber, Textiles, and Clothing Educators for the Industry’s Transformation to Circular Economy: Expanding Discipline Competencies to Enhance Workforce Preparedness. Submitted to USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Higher Education Challenge grant (CG2) program. Funded: ? Grants submitted Diddi, S., LeHew, M. L. A., Hiller Connell, K. Y., & Yan, L. (2022). Preparing Fiber, Textiles, and Clothing Educators for the Industry’s Transformation to Circular Economy: Expanding Discipline Competencies to Enhance Workforce Preparedness. Submitted to USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Higher Education Challenge grant (CG2) program. Bednarikova, Z. & Sydnor, S. (2021). Corporate community development initiatives of small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Submitted to AgSEED — Agricultural Research and Extension Leading to Economic Development in Indiana Agriculture and Rural Communities. Conference Presentations Martinez Palomares, J., C. Valdivia and M. Marshall. 2022. Finding resilience: How small businesses and people survive and succeed during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Ordered Probit Model Approach. Cambio de Colores Annual Conference Floreciendo-Resilience and Changing Communities in Uncertain Times. June 22-24, Saint Louis, MO. June 22. Marshall, M.I., R.D. Wiatt, and Y. Lee. SEW and Exit Intentions. Small Business Institute Conference, February 2022. Wiatt, R.D., M.I. Marshall, Y. Lee. Love of Work or Love and Work? Predicting Workaholism among Small Business Owners in the United States. Work Family Researchers Network Conference, June 2022. Archila-Godínez, J.C., Marshall, M.I., Wiatt, R., Deering, A., and Feng, Y. (2022). “Consumers’ food safety perception of fresh produce from small- and medium-sized farms”. Abstract at International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting. LeHew, M. L. A., Hiller, K. Y., & Doty, K. (2021, November). Exploring barriers to a sustainable and regional fibershed in the Central Plains of the United States. Poster presented at the International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference, November 3-6. Doty, K., LeHew, M. L. A., Hiller, K., & Haar, S. (2021, November). Advancing the fibershed movement: Building relationships among scholars and community organizers. Salon session presented at the International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference, November 3-6. Zimbroff, A., & Johnson Jorgensen, J. (2022, January). A Mixed Methods Instrument to Assess Entrepreneurship Ecosystems. United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Raleigh, NC. Johnson Jorgensen, J., & Sorensen, K. (2021, November).  Should A Retailer Take a Political Stance on Social Media? A Case Study of A Small Retailers’ Struggle Over Time.  International Textile and Apparel Association, Virtual Conference Extension Publications Johnson Jorgensen, J., Zuiker, V. S., Manikowske, L., & LeHew, M.  (July 2022). The use of communication technologies in small businesses.  Purdue Agricultural Economics Report. Available at: <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ag.purdue.edu/department/agecon/fambiz/2022_pifb_summer_newsletter11.pdf__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!FtdTWEpEV8ddAhe72fZrBDnkQIuyq213Lg6-awi6PSZq5U-9yWKnFbXws_zFYxSRIHWxRPzkSrU7_4keOwk$">https://ag.purdue.edu/department/agecon/fambiz/2022_pifb_summer_newsletter11.pdf</a> Lee, Y.G., Kelley, H.H., Wiatt, R., and Marshall, M.I. (2022). “Social Media Use and Business Profitability among Small Businesses”. Purdue Institute for Family Business Quarterly Newsletter, Summer Special Edition on Research 2022. Available at: <a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/department/agecon/fambiz/2022_pifb_summer_newsletter11.pdf">https://ag.purdue.edu/department/agecon/fambiz/2022_pifb_summer_newsletter11.pdf</a>. Wiatt, R. and Marshall, M.I. (2022). “Retirement or Training the Next Generation? Framing Succession in the Family Business”. Purdue Institute for Family Business Quarterly Newsletter, Spring Edition 2022. Available at: <a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/agecon/fambiz/Documents/2022_PIFB_Spring_Newsletter.pdf">https://ag.purdue.edu/agecon/fambiz/Documents/2022_PIFB_Spring_Newsletter.pdf</a>. Pullen, K., Wiatt, R., and Marshall, M.I. (2022). “First Steps in Succession Planning”. Purdue Institute for Family BusinessQuarterly Newsletter, 2022 Winter Succession Special Edition. Available at: <a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/agecon/fambiz/Documents/2022_PIFB_Winter_Newsletter.pdf">https://ag.purdue.edu/agecon/fambiz/Documents/2022_PIFB_Winter_Newsletter.pdf</a>. Wiatt, R. and Marshall, M. (2021). “Maintaining Family Bonds: Different Approaches to Conflict”. Purdue Institute for Family Business Quarterly Newsletter, Fall Edition 2021. Available at: <a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/agecon/fambiz/Pages/newsletters.aspx">https://ag.purdue.edu/agecon/fambiz/Pages/newsletters.aspx</a>. Wiatt, R. and Marshall, M. (2021). “Special Questions on COVID-19”. Purdue Institute for Family Business Quarterly Newsletter, Fall Edition 2021. Available at: <a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/agecon/fambiz/Pages/newsletters.aspx">https://ag.purdue.edu/agecon/fambiz/Pages/newsletters.aspx</a>. Extension Presentations Wiatt, R. and Marshall, M.I. (August 2, 2022). Taking the First Steps in Succession Planning. Morgan County Beef Cattle Association Annual Producer Meeting.  Marshall, M.I. and Wiatt, R.D. (November 3, 2021). Marketing and Sales: Communicating Value and Making the Sale. Gary Urban Farmer Initiative Presentation. Wiatt, R. and Marshall, M.I. (October 5, 2021). Management Transfer in Farm and Family Businesses. Purdue Women in Ag Lunch ‘n Learn Presentation Series.  Johnson Jorgensen, J. (2021, December). Sustainability + Fashion. Joslyn Institutes for Sustainable Communities Sustainable Leadership Presentation Series.  (Invited Presentation) Johnson Jorgensen, J. (2021, September). Using Q Methodology to Measure Rural Entrepreneurial Perceptions. North Central Regional Center for Rural Development Webinar Series. (Invited Presentation) Presentations (Non-refereed) Haynes, G. W. (2022). Managing Risk, Fort Peck Community College Webinar, 3/21/22. Haynes, G. W. (2022). Montana Innovation Hub for Agricultural Technology, Montana Agricultural Business Association, 3/22/22. Haynes, G. W. (2022). Bridging the Gap: Financial Reports to Enterprise Livestock Budgets, Stone Child Community College, 4/5/22. Haynes, G. W. (2022). Agricultural Programs for Socially Disadvantaged Ranchers and Farmers, 4/6/22. Haynes, G. W. (2022). Financial Planning and Management, Certified Farm Startup Program, virtual meeting, 5/25/22. Haynes, G. W. (2022). Financial Planning and Management, Fort Peck Community College, 6/8/22. Haynes, G. W. (2022). Agricultural Subsidies for Agricultural Producers, Little Big Horn Community College, 9/13/22.

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 10/06/2023

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/05/2023 - 10/06/2023
Period the Report Covers: 09/01/2022 - 10/31/2023

Participants

Yoon Lee – Utah State University
Maria Marshall - Purdue University
Das Debanjan –West Virginia University
Margaret Fitzgerald – North Dakota State University
Erin M. Irick- University of Wyoming
Jennifer Johnson Jorgensen – University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Cynthia Jasper – University of Wisconsin—(Interim Secretary)
Michael Wilcox – Purdue University – [Administrative Advisor]
Melody LeHew – Kansas State University
Stephen Mukembos – University of Missouri
Kelsie Doty –Kansas State University
Virginia Solis Zuiker – University of Minnesota (Co-Chair, with Dr. Sandra Sydnor)
Michael Cheang – University of Hawaii
Renee Wiatt – Purdue University (attended via zoom)

Brief Summary of Minutes

NC 1030: Sustainable and Resilient Systems: Transformative Response to Disruptions by Families, Businesses, and Communities

Annual Meeting Minutes

Room 161 City Campus

Lincoln, Nebraska

October 5-6, 2023

Thursday, 10-5-23, 8:15am to 5pm

Introductions:

All persons in attendance introduced themselves. Members in attendance included:

Yoon Lee – Utah State University

Maria Marshall - Purdue University

Das Debanjan –West Virginia University

Margaret Fitzgerald – North Dakota State University

Erin M. Irick- University of Wyoming

Jennifer Johnson Jorgensen – University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Cynthia Jasper – University of Wisconsin—(Interim Secretary)

Michael Wilcox – Purdue University – [Administrative Advisor]

Melody LeHew – Kansas State University

Stephen Mukembos – University of Missouri

Kelsie Doty –Kansas State University

Virginia Solis Zuiker – University of Minnesota (Co-Chair, with Dr. Sandra Sydnor)

Michael Cheang – University of Hawaii

Renee Wiatt – Purdue University (attended via zoom)

Welcome from Dr. Derek McLean, Dean of the UNL Agricultural Research Division

Dr. McLean welcomed the NC1030 group to Lincoln. He noted that the NC1030 project is timely now because we need to maintain resilient and sustainable communities and businesses. This is critical during climate change and natural disasters – all of which are becoming more prevalent. It is important to have input from social scientists like ourselves as we try to address many of the problems we are facing today.

Welcome from Dr. Virginia Solis Zuiker

Dr. Solis Zuiker welcomed the members and outlined the plans for the meeting.

Dr. Mary Emery, Director of Rural Prosperity Nebraska – discussed her role as the first director of Rural Prosperity Nebraska, a University of Nebraska program launched in 2020 that focuses on real community development and vitality.

Dr. Michael Wilcox, Purdue University and Administrative Advisor -- gave an update on multi-state projects and expectations for the achievement of goals associated with the NC1030 project.

NC1030 Policy Handbook

Dr. Cynthia Jasper led a discussion regarding the update of the NC1030 Policy Handbook.

Also discussed was the Declaration process as it is used by this group to show other committee members what individuals are working on. This helps to gain collaborators and also makes sure we are not working on similar topics separately. Because we all have diverse interests, the declaration process helps to create integrated papers.

Cynthia Jasper has agreed to update the NC1030 Policy Handbook and Maria Marshall has agreed to include two new datasets into the handbook.

Review of Project Objectives

Accomplishments from the past year where discussed relative to the five themes of the NC1030 project.

Theme 1: Rural Small Business Recovery and Resilience to Natural Hazards

Theme 2: Sustainable and Resilient SMEs in a Regenerative Fiber and Food System

Theme 3: Entrepreneurial and Innovative Response to Disruption and System Shocks by Family-Owned SMEs

Theme 4: Contributions of Socioemotional Wealth, Rurality, Collaboration and Race on Resilience and Success of Family-Owned SMEs

Theme 5: Impact of Transgenerational Control and Transfer within Family Businesses on Resilience and Recovery

Revisit Existing Data

NC1030 members discussed existing data sets and future plans for utilization of the information.

Continuing Project Group Work

Members of NC1030 discussed planning for future manuscripts, writing of manuscripts, and places for publication and presentations including the USASBE conference and NCRCRD.

Debrief

The meeting concluded for the day with a debrief session where main outcomes from the planning sessions were reported to the entire NC1030 group.

Friday – 10-6-23, 9am to 4:30pm

Announcements

Dr. Virginia Zuiker announced and outlined work plans for the day.

Invited Speaker, Kelly Ross, Founder of ECHO Collective and The Refinery, Ms. Ross founded a nonprofit in Lincoln, Nebraska, called ECHO Collective. ECHO stands for Empowering Communities through Her Opportunities. ECHO Collective’s major program, The Refinery, was created from experience with women who have the skill and passions to run a business, but were lacking in the formal business education to create success. The Refinery provides refugee and immigrant women with the opportunity to achieve economic independence and social capital through business education and professional mentorships. A community-driven curriculum is designed to create lasting relationships.

State Reports:

All members shared the highlights of their reports and achievements from the past year. Several papers have been published or are in progress. New members also shared their work from the past year that is related to the project. State Reports that have not been sent in should be completed as soon as possible.

Business Meeting:

Topics of discussion included future leadership of the group and the location and dates for the next meeting.

Leadership:

Dr. Sandra Sydnor and Dr. Virginia Zuiker were elected to serve as Co-Chairs for the next two years. Motion by Dr. Yoon Lee and second by Dr. Das Debanjan. All voted in favor of the motion to elect Dr. Sydnor and Dr. Zuiker to serve as co-chairs for two more years.

Dr. Srikant Manchiraju will continue to serve as secretary for the group. If he is unable to serve, Dr. Jennifer Johnson Jorgensen will step in as secretary for the 2023-2024 year. Dr. Kelsie Doty was elected to serve a two year term as secretary beginning in 2024 and ending in 2026. Motion by Dr. Das Debanjan and second by Dr. Yoon Lee. All members voted in favor of the motion.

Planning for NC1030 Annual Meeting for 2024

Dr. Das Debanjan from the West Virginia University is seeking information about the possibility of holding next year’s meeting – either in Pittsburgh or on the West Virginia University campus. Dr. Debanjan will provide information within the next couple of weeks after consulting with administration at his university. Purdue University has been designated as the backup meeting site.

Possible dates for the meeting are either October 3 and 4, 2024 or October 17 and 18, 2024. To be determined after the site for the next meeting is determined.

Additional business meeting updates:

Dr. Maria Marshall announced that there has been another multi-state project that has been approved – NC 1100 that is focused around rural small business and health care access and recovery systems of care. Members from the NC1030 group were encouraged to join this multi-state group.

Also announced is that NCRCRD also does a monthly webinar. If anyone has a topic that would work for one of the thematic areas, reach out to Dr. Renee Wiatt. If you are working on projects that might lend themselves to this type of presentation, please keep this in mind.

Purdue Institute for Family Business (PIFB) – It was also mentioned that a research newsletter is compiled by the NCRCRD group. NC1030 members may want to submit short one-page summaries of research you have done or literature you are diving into that you would like to share with others. Appropriate topics include: Leadership and Succession, Creating Family Bonds, Financial or Estate Planning, and Strategic Business Planning.

New Collaborative Group Work

NC1030 members collaborated in small groups and planned for analyses and the writing of manuscripts and conference presentations.

Debrief:

Again on Friday the meeting concluded with a debrief session where main outcomes from the planning sessions were reported to the entire NC1030 group.

The next video conference for the NC1030 group will be scheduled for early in December 2023.

Respectfully submitted,

Cynthia Jasper, Interim Secretary

Accomplishments

Accomplishments by NC 1030 Research Objectives (2022-2023):   The full NC1030 research team met every other month virtually to share and discuss on-going research activities. Smaller groups met throughout the year to discuss on-going research and to progress with the work begun on manuscripts. During 2022-2023, one manuscript was published, five manuscripts were in various stages: submitted, in review, or in revision, one peer-reviewed extension publication was published, one grant was awarded previously, one grant was submitted, and there were twelve conference presentations. Three manuscripts are in preparation and there was one engagement/outreach activity. The research works reported are collaborative across states.  Specific accomplishments are represented by the three project objectives which are derivatives of the five themes. NC 1030: Five Themes 1) Rural Small Business Recovery and Resilience to Natural Hazards; 2) Sustainable and Resilient SMEs in a Regenerative Fiber and Food System; 3) Entrepreneurial and Innovative Response to Disruption and System Shocks by Family-Owned SMEs; 4) Contributions of Socioemotional Wealth, Rurality, Collaboration and Race on Resilience and Success of Family-Owned SMEs and 5) Impact of Transgenerational Control and Transfer within Family Businesses on Resilience and Recover. Three Objectives: <ul> <li>Objective 1: Identify and measure the sources of major change and disruption and the structural barriers that impact the family/household, the business, or the community.</li> </ul> NC1030 members collaborated on a proposal to the USAD NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant program. The proposal titled, Building Circular Economy Competencies in Fiber, Textiles and Clothing Curricula to Enhance Workforce Preparedness, was not funded. This project addresses the increasing environmental impact of the global fiber, textiles, and clothing (FTC) industry, where companies are shifting to circular economy (CE) practices. The CE model takes a regenerative approach that facilitates education for circularity and enhances employability of students entering the workforce. The overarching goal of this multi-institutional and transdisciplinary project is to enhance FTC curriculum with CE competencies to prepare next generation professionals to support the industry transformation toward circularity. The first objective is to increase conceptual knowledge related to FTC CE principles in baccalaureate education and address the skills gap related to regenerative agriculture, emerging technologies, and innovations advancing circularity. The second objective is to support FTC educators’ ability to deliver professional competencies related to CE. The following NC1030 members collaborated on this project: Diddi, LeHew and Doty. LeHew & Doty worked on the following project: identifying opportunities and challenges experienced by regional fiber-based businesses MSMEs. Data was collected via personal interviews. Wiatt, Marshall, and Haynes utilized data from the 2020 Small Business Disaster Survey and is titled “In the Depths of Despair: Lost Income and Recovery for Small Businesses During COVID-19.”  This study examined how small business owners sought to keep their businesses operating during the harshest times of the COVID-19 pandemic. I worked on this manuscript with other members of the NC-1030 working group (Renee Wiatt, Maria Marshall, and George Haynes). In this study, we tried to find the association between business funding strategies and actions taken by the business and both percent of lost income and length of recovery for U.S. small businesses. The completed manuscript was submitted to the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction on January 27, 2023; however, this manuscript was recommended to revise and resubmit for possible consideration of publication in this journal. Based on one reviewer’s comment, we worked to solve an endogeneity concern. To solve this problem, we applied a three-stage least squares regression model for this study and have plans on resubmitting by year’s end. Niehm, Das, Manchiraju, Wiatt, LeHew, & Diddi collaborated on emerging research that addresses several overarching questions concerning small business owners and investigates the relationship between WLB/WFB for small business owners and their perceived business success. Research questions include: 1. Does one’s sense of work-life or work-family balance (WLB/WFB) impact feelings of perceived economic success for small business owners? 2. Can the strategic use of family adjustment strategies moderate spillover effects into family and work domains, thereby impact perceived economic success? A sizable portion of the literature addresses WLB/WFB for large companies (e.g., Wong, Chan & Teh, 2020; Felstead, Jewson, Phizacklea, & Waters, 2002). However, research addressing the said issue in small business settings still needs to be done. Thus, creating a knowledge gap regarding WLB/WFB for small, independently owned businesses has dramatically increased since the COVID 19 disruptions of 2020 and 2021 (Grossfeld, 2021). Sydnor, Jorgensen, Jasper, Zuiker, and Visser's research states that this study was motivated by the observation that despite systemic inequities, economic biases in lending, racism and discrimination, business owners of color report higher optimism than their counterparts. The question that guided the study was: does experiencing a sudden shock, such as the 2020 pandemic impact optimism and perceptions of wealth and wellbeing? This is the first study of the perception of wealth and well-being of small hospitality businesses, including family-owning businesses, and especially minority business owners during sudden shocks.  Based on the research completed with NC-1030 members, results of the study on wealth and well-being of small business owners indicate that small business owners have higher levels of subjective well-being than larger companies and those making more than $100k per year have lower levels of subjective well-being.  In a similar vein, the results from the study on coping techniques and the wealth of hospitality businesses are fourfold: 1) women owners of hospitality businesses that used coping techniques perceived themselves as more successful, 2) owners of hospitality businesses that used coping techniques have a more positive perception of wealth, 3) race was not a factor in wealth and wellbeing perceptions, and 4) family-owned businesses and women have higher levels of wellbeing than men and nonfamily-owned businesses.  Results from these two studies help guide small business owners and retail managers to focus on increasing well-being, as it will have a positive impact on not only health but on wealth as well.  <ul> <li>Objective 2: Identify and measure transformative responses to the positive and negative impacts of change and disruption on the family/household, the business, or the community.</li> </ul> Lee, Kelley, Wiatt, and Marshall, using data from the 2019 Small Business Values Survey (SBVS), investigated differences between copreneur and noncopreneur small business owners in the United States. Specifically, we looked at differences in work-family balance characteristics, business characteristics, and owner characteristics between copreneurial and noncopreneurial small businesses. We found that copreneurs were significantly more likely than noncopreneurs to report conflicts about decisions related to their work and family lives and were also more likely to report negative work-to-family spillover and negative family-to-work spillover. However, using a logistic regression, we found that copreneurs were more likely than noncopreneurs to report perceiving the business as successful and profitable. Looking at a subsample of only copreneurs, we found that various work-family balance characteristics, business characteristics, and owner characteristics were significantly associated with the likelihood of perceiving the business as successful or profitable. Wiatt, Marshall, and Musselman investigated the succession process in small and medium family farms as two distinct but related processes of management transfer and ownership transfer. Past studies focused on the broad subject of succession, without dissecting succession into the components that it contains. Further, this study aimed to evaluate which business, family, and owner characteristics were significant in progressing each process towards the actual transfer of management and ownership. A bivariate ordered probit regression was utilized to model the processes of management and ownership transfer as separate but related processes. Both management transfer and ownership transfer were modeled utilizing three distinct stages of transfer. Business and owner characteristics were significant to both management and ownership transfer, whereas family characteristics only influenced ownership transfer. Farm family businesses that discussed goals, identified a successor, and were educated on how to start the transfer process were more likely to have made progress in both management and ownership transfer.  Marshall, Katare, and Valdivia explore the lessons learned from small business recovery from Hurricane Katrina that occurred over a decade ago and the recent COVID-19 Pandemic. The results show that financial comingling can have short-term benefits but long-term detrimental effects. The results also indicate that not only does business size matter, but also that direct-to-consumer businesses are more vulnerable to decreased demand by consumers. Finally, for both types of disaster, U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans seem to have the highest effect on small business recovery.  Cheang, Palomares, Valdivia, Katare, & Zuiker collaborated on research paper that centered families’ and small businesses’ coping efforts during a public health crisis.  <ul> <li>Objective 3: Determine and inform policy or practice related to the wellbeing of the family, the business, or the community.</li> </ul> LeHew & Doty collaborated on the development and delivery of a Farm to Fashion camp to middle and high schoolers. This project can be considered a form of engaged scholarship and outreach. The camp introduced young people to stages of fiber production, from sheep to product development, emphasizing importance of transitioning to sustainable practices. The overarching goal of this activity is to inform and inspire young people to pursue a career in the regenerative and regional fiber system. Marshall, Katare, and Valdivia provided early evidence on how small business owners were affected by COVID-19 and the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. We collected online survey data from a national sample of 463 small business owners across the United States. There are three main themes that emerge from the results. First, drivers of income loss were not necessarily associated with time to recovery. Second, businesses that were undercapitalized were more likely to suffer higher income loss, longer time to recovery, and less likely to be resilient. Resilient was operationalized as a scale merging perceived success, potential for growth, and perceived profitability. Third, business model changes were necessary due to the pandemic but not all adaptive strategies led to better business outcomes. The results from this research study will lead to a better understanding of key vulnerabilities and adjustments that small businesses make to fully recover from economic shocks.  NC-1030 members from Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Colorado, Utah, West Virginia, and Florida collaborated on a grant application to the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD). The proposal was submitted in November 2022 and was ultimately not funded.  The proposal, however, is being reimagined in 2023 and is planned to be submitted to an external agency within the next year.  Once funded, the impacts will include forming a transformative system focused on sustainability and resilience for rural fiber-based small businesses.  The economic prospects are exciting, and the more efficient use of raw materials (e.g., agri-based fiber, wool, etc.) will significantly impact the agriculture, retail, and related industries.  -----------

Publications

Publications Lee, Y., H. Kelley, R. Wiatt, and M.I. Marshall. 2023. Work-Family Balance and Perceived Business Outcomes Among Copreneurial and Noncopreneurial Small Business Owners. Journal of Family and Economic Issues. Manuscripts Submitted/ In Review/Under Revision Edobor, Edeoba W, Maria I. Marshall, Bhagyashree Katare, and Corinne Valdivia. Insuring for Cyclone Events: What Matters Most to Small Business Owners? International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. Marshall, M.I., Y.G. Lee, and R.D. Wiatt. Does socioemotional wealth impact owner exit intention? The case of small businesses in the U.S. under revision. Valdivia, C., Morales, A., Perez, O. F. R., Flores, L. Y., & Zuiker, V. S. (Revise and Resubmit). Latinos and Latinas subjective wellbeing in Midwestern non-metro towns. Wiatt, R., M.I. Marshall, and Y.G. Lee. Love of Work or Love and Work: Does Small Business Owners Compulsion to Work Payoff? Journal of Family and Economic Issues. Wiatt, R., M.I. Marshall, Y.G. Lee, and G. Haynes. In the Depths of Despair: Lost Income and Recovery for Small Businesses During COVID-19. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. Sorensen, K.  & Johnson Jorgensen, J. (In Press).  Millennial Perceptions of Private Label and National Brand Clothing: An Exploration of Clothing Preferences Using Q Methodology. Johnson Jorgensen, J., Sorensen, K. & Spilinek, M.  (Under Revision).  Motivations to Collect: How Consumers are Socialized to Build Product Collections.  Spilinek, M. & Johnson Jorgensen, J. (In Review).  Creepy or Convenient?: Consumer Perceptions of Privacy and Ad Exposure on Social Media. Johnson Jorgensen, J., & Sorensen, K. (In Review).  Millennial Perceptions of Augmented Reality in Retail: A Q Methodology Study.  Johnson Jorgensen, J. (In Review).  The Socialization of Baby Boomer Consumers through Visual Social Media.  Peer Reviewed Extension Publications Fitzgerald, M. and Muske, G. (2023, August). “Couples in Business Together”. Purdue Institute for Family Business Newsletter. Newsletter 2: <a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/department/agecon/fambiz/newsletters.html">https://ag.purdue.edu/department/agecon/fambiz/newsletters.html</a>. Grants: USDA-NIFA-AFRI: Rural Small Business Recovery and Resilience to Natural Hazards: A Focus on Women and Minority Owned Small Businesses, 6/2019-5/2022, $499,999.84, PI and Project Director M.I. Marshall, Co-PIs: B. Katare (Purdue) and C. Valdivia (University of Missouri). Jung, N. Y., & Johnson Jorgensen, J. (2023).  The Effects of Human Inclusive SSRT (Self Service Retail Technology) on Consumers’ Patronage.  Layman Award. Funded: $9,907.50.   Johnson Jorgensen, J. (2022).  Constructing the Fabric of a Sustainability-Focused Future Fashion Workforce.  Grants-In-Aid.  Funded: $7,465.72. Submitted/Not funded LeHew, M., Doty, K., Niehm, L., Johnson Jorgensen, J., Zuiker, V., Jasper, C., Sydnor, S., Diddi, S., Lee, Y., Das, D., & Manchiraju, S. (2022).  Resilient Communities and Economies Supported by Sustainable and Regenerative Fiber Systems.  North Central Regional Center for Rural Development Thematic Workgroups Grant.  Unfunded: $48,050.00. Conference Presentations Diddi, S., LeHew, M. L. A., Hiller Connell, K. Y., & Li, Y. (2022, October). Educator preparedness to incorporate Circular Economy principles in undergraduate fiber, textiles, and clothing curricula. Poster presented at the International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference, October 27-30. Diddi, S., Hiller Connell, K. Y., LeHew, M. L. A., & Li, Y. (2022, October). Knowledge and skills required to advance Circular Economy in the fashion industry: Perspectives from industry professionals. Poster presented at the International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference, October 27-30. Doty, K., LeHew, M. L. A., Hiller, K. Y., & Crane, A. (2022, October). Farm  to Fashion Camp: Educating students on animal fiber production for the fashion supply chain. Poster presented at the International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference, October 27-30. Doty, K., LeHew, M. L. A., Hiller Connell, K., & Crane , A. (2023, April 14). Engaged Scholarship through the Flint Hills Farm to Fashion Camp. Presented at the Fashion and Circular Economy Symposium, Ft. Collins, CO. LeHew, M. L. A., & Diddi, S. (2023, April 14). Exploring consumers as supply chain partners within a circular system and the need for a paradigm shift in consumer behavior education. Visioning Session at the Fashion and Circular Economy Symposium, Ft. Collins, CO. Marshall, M., Lee, Y., Haynes, G., Valdiva, C., Doty, K., Cheang, M., and Wiatt, R. (2023). Use of family business adjustment strategies during COVID: A comparison between homebased and non-homebased businesses, United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Annual Meeting, January, 2023. Marshall, M., Lee, Y., Haynes, G., and Wiatt, R. (2023). Small Businesses during COVID-19: Funding strategies to expedite recovery and minimize Income Loss, United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, January, 2023. Martinez-Palomares, Jorge, Corinne Valdivia, and Maria Marshall. 2023. Who got it worse? The implications of decreasing income on mental health by gender and race during the Covid-19 pandemic. Cambio de Colores Conference, June 18, Columbia, MO. Niehm, L. S., Das, D., Manchiraju, S., Wiatt, R., LeHew, M. L. A., & Diddi, S. (2023, January). Work-life balance and perceived economic success of small US businesses: Exploring the moderating effect of family adjustment strategies. Research paper presented at USASBE Annual Conference, January 18-22. Sydnor, S., Jorgensen, J. J., Jasper, C., Zuiker, V. S., & Visser, M. A. (2023). Wealth & well-being: Perceptions from diverse family-owned businesses. Presentation presented at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) annual conference, Orlando, Florida. Sydnor, S., Jorgensen, J. J., Jasper, C., Zuiker, V. S., & Visser, M. A. (2023). The role gender and family play in businesses’ perceptions of wealth & wellbeing under sudden shocks. Poster presented at the 2023 Annual International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE) Summer Global Conference, Phoenix, AZ. Wiatt et al. Depths of Despair USASBE, January 2023 Manuscripts- Work in Progress Cheang, M., Palomares, J. C. M., Valdivia, C., Katare, B., & Zuiker, V. S. (Submitted, Rejected, Manuscript in Preparation). Families' and small businesses' efforts to cope with income reduction or loss in times of a public health crisis. Sydnor, S., Jorgensen, J. J., Jasper, C., Zuiker, V. S., & Visser, M. A.   Perceptions of Wealth and Well-being Of (Diverse) Family-Owned Businesses. (Manuscript in Preparation). Wiatt, R. D., Marshall, M. I., Zuiker, V. S., Haynes, G., Jasper, C. R., Sydnor, S., & Valdivia, C. (Manuscript in Preparation). The Impact of Family Business Culture and Wellbeing (or Balance or Self-Care) on Functioning and Profitability. Extension Presentations Haynes, G. (2022). Fibershed presentation on small business, Montana Fibershed, Bozeman, Montana.  October, 2022 Haynes, G. (2022).  Economic Impact of Covid-19 and Stimulus Programs, Agricultural Economics Conference, Montana State University, October, 2022. Haynes, G. (2022).  Local rural development - financial planning and management and agricultural subsidies. Hamilton, Montana, October, 2022 Haynes, G. (2023).  More Agricultural Price and Production Uncertainty and Volatility in 2022. Bureau of Business and Economic Research. January through March, 2023. Haynes, G. (2023). Agricultural policy:  Stimulus, IRA, and farm Bill, Stone Child workshop, webinar, April, 2023. Haynes, G. (2023). Finance, Tax and Asset Protection (FTAP), Stone Child workshop, webinar, April, 2023. Haynes, G. (2023). Agricultural Economics of Montana Hutterites.  MSU, June, 2023 Haynes, G. (2023).  Financial Stimulus Update:  Past, Present, and Future, Montana Farmer’s Union, webinar, June, 2023 Engagement/Outreach Hiller Connell, K. Y., LeHew, M. L. A., Doty, K., & Crane, A. (2022, June). Flint Hills Farm to Fashion Camp. Youth summer camp at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 12/16/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 11/07/2024 - 11/08/2024
Period the Report Covers: 09/01/2023 - 11/08/2024

Participants

Erin M. Irick- University of Wyoming
Jennifer Johnson Jorgensen – University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Yoon Lee – Utah State University
Melody LeHew – Kansas State University
Stephen Mukembos – University of Missouri
Maria Marshall - Purdue University
Linda Niehm - Iowa State University
Sandra Sydnor - Purdue University (Co-Chair, with Dr. Virginia Solis Zuiker)
Renee Wiatt – Purdue University
Amy Shane-Nichols - University of Wyoming
Kelsie Doty –Kansas State University
Virginia Solis Zuiker – University of Minnesota (Co-Chair, with Dr. Sandra Sydnor)
Corinne Valdivia- University of Missouri
Das Debanjan –West Virginia University
Cynthia Jasper – University of Wisconsin (attended via Zoom)
Michael Cheang – University of Hawaii (attended via Zoom)
Margaret Fitzgerald – North Dakota State University (attended via Zoom)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Thursday November 7^th

8:30_am Announcements

Went around the table for introductions.

9:00_am State Reports

Members went around the room and commented on new outcomes for State Reports. Please make sure to submit State Reports to Virginia asap.

10:00_am Visit from Dean Jorge Atiles: WVU Division of Land Grant Engagement

Dean Atiles spoke on small family firms, outreach, and engagement in West Virginia. Charged the group to look at geography and its impact on resiliency.

11:00_am Business Meeting

Virginia Solis Zuiker and Sandra Sydnor on Elections

Secretary has been Jenny Beth for 2023-2024 and Kelsie Doty will be starting a two-year term 2024-2026. Unofficially to be known as “Keeper of Records”

Co-Chair Sandra Sydnor is retiring at the end of this calendar year. The group decided that Linda Niehm will fill in for Sandra Sydnor to finish out 2025-2026 as co-chair. Melody LeHew will be a co-chair 2025-2027. Erin Irick will be a co-chair 2026-2028.

Note that service years start at our annual meeting.

Motion to accept elections was passed by the group in attendance.

Strategic Planning

Annual Meeting Plan

2025: Kansas State University

2026: Wyoming State University

2027: Iowa State University, Health and Human Sciences will have a new building

Please note: Proposal writing will need to be done by October 15^th of 2025. See attached document for list of dates.

Handbook updates from Cynthia Jasper. Please see email with handbook updates.

Motion to accept handbook changes was passed by the group in attendance.

Melody will work on updating the language for Duties/Term of Office before our next quarterly meeting.

Member Recruitment

Virginia Solis Zuiker and Sandra Sydnor requested the group think about research gaps and ask that we brainstorm new members. Discussion was held around states in the North Central region that are not represented in the group. Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Michigan were some of the states mentioned as not having representation in the group.

Declarations

1:00_pm New Collaboration Group Work: Brainstorming and New Directions

Groups split off to work.

2:30 – 6:00_pm Farm Tour:

Grazing Herd Mercantile

See Photocircle for images.

Friday November 8^th

8:35_am Welcome

Virginia Solis Zuiker

8:40_pm Review of Project Objectives

Review of Project Objectives

Current Objectives are:

Objective 1: Identify and measure the sources of major change and disruption and the structural barriers that impact the family/household, the business or the community.

Objective 2: Identify and measure transformative responses to the positive and negative impacts of change and disruption on the family/household, the business, or the community.

Objective 3: Determine and inform policy or practice related to the wellbeing of the family, the business, or the community.

Proposed New Objectives:

Objective 1: Identify the opportunities and threats in a changing environment and measure the impact on families/households, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and/or communities.

Objective 2: Identify and measure transformative responses to the positive and negative impacts of change on families/households, MSMEs and/or communities.

Objective 3: Determine and inform policy or practice related to the wellbeing of families/households, MSMEs and/or communities.

NC1030 members will look at the new NIFA priorities to shape the next round of Project Themes. Review possible alignment with Sustainable Development Goal’s.

The writing group for the new themes will be Erin Irick (lead), Yoon Lee (lead), Debanjan Das, Jenny Beth Jorgensen, Stephen Mukembo, Maria Marshall (advisor).

The major themes will be split between fiber and family.

10:00_am New Collaboration Group Work

11:00_amTrip to take pictures with Don Knotts statue and lunch.

3:00_pm Revisit Existing Data

No updates from Maria.

Melody and Fiber Team are looking at gathering data for Lifestyle Entrepreneurship, but team will first conduct systematic literature review before proceeding.

2:15_pm Continuing Projects Group Work

USASBE, NCRCRD, Manuscript Writing

4:30_pm Debrief

Report Main Outcomes

5:00 Meeting Adjourned

Accomplishments

The full NC1030 research team met virtually every other month to share and discuss on-going research activities. Smaller groups met throughout the year to discuss on-going research and to progress with the work begun on manuscripts. The NC1030 research team produced the following works during 2023-2024: two articles were published, six manuscripts were in various stages: submitted, in review, or in revision, five grants were funded, one grant was submitted but not funded, eight conference presentations, and five extension presentations. Three manuscripts are in preparation and two engagement/outreach activities were presented. The research works reported are collaborative across states. Specific accomplishments are represented by the three project objectives which are derivatives of the five themes. NC 1030: Five Themes 1) Rural Small Business Recovery and Resilience to Natural Hazards; 2) Sustainable and Resilient SMEs in a Regenerative Fiber and Food System; 3) Entrepreneurial and Innovative Response to Disruption and System Shocks by Family-Owned SMEs; 4) Contributions of Socioemotional Wealth, Rurality, Collaboration and Race on Resilience and Success of Family-Owned SMEs and 5) Impact of Transgenerational Control and Transfer within Family Businesses on Resilience and Recover. Three Objectives: <ul> <li>Objective 1: Identify and measure the sources of major change and disruption and the structural barriers that impact the family/household, the business, or the community.</li> </ul> NC1030 members Marshall, Wiatt, Lee, Jasper, Fitzgerald collaborated with NC1100 to develop a small business survey for the North Central Region in collaboration with NC20172. The survey was conducted by NCRCRD and data were made available in open access. The survey focuses on small businesses, benefits, health, and wellbeing. Visser collaborates with colleagues from Florida to measure economic resilience in rural communities and identify sufficient elements to identify “major shocks” or disruption” in long term economic trends. Marshall, Fitzgerald, Lee, Wiatt, Cheang, and Mukembo examine differences in Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) between copreneurs, business-owning couples, and non-copreneurial family businesses differences in their social-emotional well-being using data from the 2019 Small Business Survey with fewer than 100 employees. Findings suggest copreneurial businesses were less concerned with transgenerational control than other types of family businesses which in turn implies that they may have different long-term objectives than non-copreneurial family businesses. NC1030 members Martinez-Palomares, J., M. Cheang, and C. Valdivia collaborated and presented their preliminary findings at the Cambio de Colores Annual Conference 2024 in Kansas City. Their study is titled, “Natural hazards and Covid-19 pandemic: The double ABC-X stress model adaptation for Hispanic minorities”. Findings suggest that Latina business owners have less well-being than their male counterparts. Bonding social capital mitigates the negative impact of well-being on resilience by reducing in absolute value, the negative impact of having a negative well-being on resilience.  The next steps are to test other instruments on the entire sample; adapt the Double ABC-X model using latent variables. NC 1030 members Yoon Lee, Michael Cheang, Cynthia Jasper and Renee Wiatt examined the factors associated with business performance among small businesses in the United States, while comparing differences in work-family interface issues between women (n = 266) and men (n = 232) business owners (N=498). Their manuscript is titled, “Work-Family Boundary Interaction and Business Performance: How Do Women and Men Business Owners Differ?” Using data from the 2019 Small Business Values Survey (SBVS), regression results indicated that all else being equal, women business owners reported significantly lower business income than their men counterparts. Regression results also revealed that work-family boundary disruption was positively associated with perceived business profitability and successful family-business functioning was positively associated with both perceived profitability and business income. On the other hand, operating businesses from home was negatively associated with both perceived profitability and business income. Their work has been submitted to a journal for review. Johnson Jorgensen (Nebraska) collaborated with five other NC-1030 members (Sydnor, Jasper, Zuiker, and Visser’s) to prepare a research article on the wealth and well-being of small business owners. This work extends the Sustainable Family Business Theory by exploring the subjective well-being of small business owners. The research article will be submitted in early 2025. Research conducted with NC-1030 members revealed that small business owners generally experience higher levels of subjective well-being compared to larger companies, while those earning over $100k per year report lower levels of well-being. Similarly, the study on coping techniques and the wealth of hospitality businesses found that: 1) women owners using coping techniques perceive themselves as more successful, 2) these owners have a more positive perception of wealth, 3) race does not influence perceptions of wealth and well-being, and 4) family-owned businesses and women report higher well-being than men and non-family-owned businesses. These findings guide small business owners and retail managers on the positive impacts of health and wealth on overall well-being. <ul> <li>Objective 2: Identify and measure transformative responses to the positive and negative impacts of change and disruption on the family/household, the business, or the community.</li> </ul> NC1030 members Diddi, LeHew, along with research scholars Hiller, Morris and Rebecca Burgess (Executive Director and Founder of Fibershed) were awarded USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant titled “Building Circular Economy Competencies In Fiber, Textiles And Clothing Curriculum To Enhance Workforce Preparedness” $733,382 in 2024. The overarching goal of this multi-institutional and transdisciplinary project is to enhance fiber, textiles and clothing (FTC) curriculum with circular (CE) competencies to prepare the next generation of professionals to support the industry transformation toward circularity. The first objective is to increase conceptual knowledge related to FTC CE principles in baccalaureate education and address the skills gap related to regenerative agriculture, emerging technologies, and innovations advancing circularity. The second objective is to support FTC educators’ ability to deliver professional competencies related to CE. Marshall, Wiatt, and Lee collaborated on a manuscript focusing on small business exit strategies and the effects of socioemotional wealth on the choice of four common exit strategies. The four common exit strategies included in this study were: 1) give the business to family, 2) sell the business to family, 3) sell the business to outsiders, or 4) liquidate the business. Over 50% of small businesses in the U.S. have business owners over the age of 55 and the majority do not have a planned exit strategy. Trillions of dollars in wealth will be transferred in the next decade. Business owner exit is associated with financial and non-financial factors. For rural business owners, in particular, non-financial factors or socioemotional wealth may play a key role in the exit strategy they choose. Business owners have many different paths to exit their businesses such as giving, selling, or liquidating their businesses. A multinomial logit model was used to determine the association of socioemotional wealth (SEW) with the choice of four common exit strategies employed by rural small business owners. The data were from a national survey of U.S. small business owners. Business owners with high SEW were more likely to choose stewardship strategies rather than liquidate. Rural business owners compared to their urban counterparts were less likely to choose to sell their businesses to non-family members which may have implications for rural main street over the next decade. Fitzgerald, Lee, Marshall, Wiatt, Cheang, & Mukembo continue to study the use of adjustment strategies within businesses and families when unusually high demands are made on either system utilizing data from the 2019 Small Business Values Survey (SBVS). Their study focuses on how couple and non-couple owners differ in use of business managerial strategies when competing demands on time and resources are present in the business or family systems. While descriptive statistics show copreneurs use fewer adjustment strategies, regression analysis revealed couple-owned businesses actually use more strategies than others. Business characteristics (size, location, industry) and owner demographics (age, gender, ethnicity) significantly influence strategy usage. A manuscript is being prepared with plans to submit the manuscript in the spring of 2025. Marshall, Wiatt, Lee, Fitzgerald, Cheang, and Mukembo study titled, “Mixing Business and Pleasure: Socioemotional wealth and income among copreneurs and Business-owning couples” was presented at the 2024 Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) Conference in Montreal Canada utilizing data from 500 U.S. small businesses to examine how copreneurial and couple-owned business structures affect both financial (income) and non-financial (socioemotional wealth) outcomes. Preliminary results show that while being a couple-owned business or copreneurial business leads to higher levels of socioemotional wealth, it is also associated with lower income. Plans are to submit the manuscript to a journal in spring 2025. LeHew, Doty, Erin Irick, Das, Diddi, Manchiraju, and Eike presented a “round-table” symposium at the International Federation of Home Economics (IFHE) World Congress in Galway, Ireland in June 2024. By sharing global perspectives represented by conference attendees we gained a richer understanding regarding the power of transformative education for reimagining the fashion industry for circularity. This can inform future research endeavors for development of a circular fiber economy in the U.S. NC 1030 members Valdivia, Cheang, Zuiker, Katare, and Martinez-Palomares examined the strategies families and small businesses across the United States used to cope with a drastic reduction or loss of income because of the COVID-19 pandemic?  Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted using a nationally representative sample to examine the association between coping strategies used to deal with income reduction or loss, and health and subjective wellbeing. Findings suggest that while families and small businesses are resourceful in normal times, during periods of non-normative shocks of such magnitude and extended period of time as the COVID-19 pandemic, without systems and structural supports from the government, the conventional ways of coping (e.g., use of savings, reaching out to family and friends, and getting assistance from food pantries) may not be sufficient to help families and small businesses to recover from such unexpected life events.  The manuscript was submitted to a journal in 2024. Research combining both Objectives 1 and 2 are detailed below: Collaborators from the NC1030 research group, Irick, LeHew, Doty, Das, Johnson-Jorgensen, Manchiraju, and Diddi submitted a grant to the NCRCRD small grants program. The project’s titled, “Shepherding Change: Cultivating Sustainable Wool Industry in the North Central Region”. The purpose of this grant was to identify challenges and opportunities confronting the development of a sustainable wool industry in the North Central region and to identify avenues for economic development throughout the supply chain, and long-term success of small wool fiber-based businesses, while enhancing rural community vitality. The anticipated output of this grant was a systematic literature review, a regional wool-fiber supply chain database, dissemination of findings via manuscript and presentation, and a research project proposal to submit to USDA NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) grant program. The NCRCRD small grant was not funded, but the same group of researchers anticipate reworking the grant proposal and reapplying should that funding source be offered again in the coming year. LeHew, Diddi, Niehm, Inwood, Jasper, Sydnor, Jorgensen, Das, and Visser collaborated on developing a proposal for external funding to cover team development and meetings, preliminary data collection, and other activities facilitating multi-state collaboration leading to outputs (i.e., research publications, Extension publications). Plans are underway to submit the proposal in 2025 and, if funded, will support collaborative work for a three-year period. The group proposal anticipates the work will advance sustainable business approaches by exploring the viability of a regenerative and circular agricultural supply chain for fiber products. <ul> <li> Objective 3: Determine and inform policy or practice related to the wellbeing of the family, the business, or the community.</li> </ul> Wiatt, Marshall, and Lee published an article, “Love of Work or Love and Work: Does a Business Owner’s Compulsion to Work Pay Off?” to the Journal of Family and Economic Issues utilizing data from the 2019 Small Business Values Survey (SBVS). This study investigated factors associated with small business owners behaving as compulsive workers. Fitzgerald and others presented farm stress and best practices when working with farm families at the Minnesota Farm Advocate and Mediator Meeting/Training conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in October 2023. Niehm and Machiraju and graduate students have a new research project focusing on social-emotional well-being and small business success. Specifically, examining the performance and sustainability of small rural businesses that invest in employee well-being by offering a variety of benefits, job flexibility, and other factors centered on work-life balance utilizing the NCR-Stat Small Business survey. Plans are to present at USASBE and then write a manuscript. Research combining both Objectives 2 and 3 are detailed below: Wiatt, Marshall, Haynes, and Lee published an article, “In the Depths of Despair: Lost Income and Recovery for Small Businesses During COVID-19” to the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction utilizing data from the 2019 Small Business Values Survey (SBVS). This study examined how small business owners sought to keep their businesses operating during the harshest times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research encompassing all three Objectives are detailed below: Manchiraju, Niehm, Diddi, LeHew, and Das collaborated on a research project using data from the Small Business Values Survey (2019). It was presented at the US Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) in 2023 under the Emerging Research track and they are developing it into a full manuscript for publication. Lee, Marshall, and Wiatt are collaborating on a research topic that compares differences in exit intention strategies between BIPOC and White-American business owners utilizing data from the 2019 Small Business Survey. It is titled, “Giving, Selling, or Liquidating: Exit Strategies of BIPOC Small Business Owners.” Our preliminary regression results show that BIPOC business owners were more likely to choose stewardship exit strategies rather than liquidate. This finding is consistent with previous findings. BIPOC business owners were also more likely to give or sell their businesses to familiar successors than to liquidate their businesses.  Plans are to submit the manuscript to a journal in 2025.

Publications

Publications (Theme 4) Wiatt, R., Marshall, M.I., and Lee, Y.G. (2024 March). “Love of Work or Love and Work: Does Business Owner Compulsion to Work Pay Off?”. Journal of Family and Economic Issues. DOI: https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/10.1007/s10834-024-09949-9. (Theme 4) Lee, Y.G., Kelley, H.H., Wiatt, R., and Marshall, M.I. (2023, March 25). “Work-Family Balance and Perceived Business Outcomes Among Copreneurial and Noncopreneurial Small Business Owners”. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 45, 200-211. DOI: https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/10.1007/s10834-023-09897-w  Manuscripts Submitted/ In Review/Under Revision Lee, Y., Cheang, M., Jasper, C., Wiatt, R., (manuscript under review) Work-Family Boundary Interaction and Business performance: How Do Women and Men Business Owners Differ? Community, Work and Family. (Theme 3) Feng, Y., Stoll, A., Marshall, M., and Wiatt, R. “Exploring Consumer Willingness to Pay for Food Safety in Produce: A Focus on Small vs. Large Farms”. Food Control. (Theme 5) Marshall, M.I., Y.G. Lee, and R.D. Wiatt. The ‘silver tsunami’: community embeddedness and small business owner exit strategies. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. (Theme 1) Edobor, E.W, M.I. Marshall, B. Katare, and C. Valdivia. Insuring for Cyclone Events: What Matters Most to Small Business Owners? Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. Lee, Y., Cheang, M., Jasper, C., Wiatt, R. Work-Family Boundary Interaction and Business Performance: How Do Women and Men Business Owners Differ?” Community, Work & Family. Martinez-Palomares, J., Valdivia, C., Cheang, M., Zuiker, V. & Katare, B. (2024),  Families’ and Small Businesses’ Efforts to Cope with Income Reduction or Loss in Times of a Public Health Crisis.  Journal of Family and Economic Issues. Peer Reviewed Extension Publications Grants: Diddi, S., LeHew, M. L. A., Hiller, K. Y., Morris, K., & Burgess, R. (2024) Building circular economy competencies in fiber, textiles, and clothing curriculum to enhance workforce preparedness. Funded by USDA NIFA Higher Education Challenge (CG2) Grant program. (Themes 1 and 2) USDA-NIFA-SAS: Building Resilience to Shocks and Disruptions: Creating Sustainable and Equitable Local and Regional Food Systems in the US Midwest Region and Beyond, 2023-2028, $10 million, Michigan State University. <ol> <ol> <li>Co-PI, subaward to Marshall (AGEC) is $527,506 (Wiatt, collaborator) </li> </ol> </ol> (Theme 5) AgSEED Grant. (2022-2024). “A Farm Succession Toolkit: Defining Successful Strategies for Exit and Entry”. $50,000. Marshall, M., Wiatt, R. (Co-PI), Curley, L., Langemeier, M., Pullen, K., and Weaver, K. (Theme 3) Small Business Administration & Northeast Indiana Innovation Center: Northeast Indiana Adaptive Community Navigator, 2021-2023, $98,835. Marshall, M.I., Wilcox, M., Wiatt, R.W. (Theme 1) USDA-NIFA-AFRI: Taking the Next Step as a Small and Medium Sized Farm: Understanding the Integration of Production, Food Safety, and Profitability, 2021-2025, $500,000, PI and Project Director: M.I. Marshall, Co-PIs: B. Feng (FS), P. Langenhoven (HLA), N. Shoaf (Urban Ag), and R. Wiatt (AGEC). Submitted/Not funded Doty, K., LeHew, M. L. A., Irick, E., Jorgensen, J., Das, D., Manchiraju, S., & Diddi, S. (2024). Shepherding Change: Cultivating Sustainable Wool Industry In the North Central Region. Submitted to North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) Small Research Grant program. Conference Presentations LeHew, M.L.A, Doty, K., Irick, E., Das, D., Diddi, S., & Manchiraju, S.  (2024). Charting the Future of Fashion: Identifying Transformative Education Approaches. Presented at the International Federation of Home Economics World Congress, Galway, Ireland, June 2024. (Theme 4) June 2024: Copreneurs and Their Use of Adjustment Strategies: A Comparison to Other Forms of Family Businesses. Fitzgerald, M., Lee, Y., Marshall, M.I., Wiatt, R., Cheang, M., Mukembo, S. Work and Family Research Network Conference (Symposium on Copreneurial Ventures: Making Business and Family Work), Montreal, Canada. (Theme 4) June 2024: Mixing Business and Pleasure: Socioemotional Wealth and Income Levels Among Copreneurs and Business-Owning Couples. Marshall, M.I., Wiatt, R., Lee, Y., Fitzgerald, M., Cheang, M., Mukembo, S. Work and Family Research Network Conference (Symposium on Copreneurial Ventures: Making Business and Family Work), Montreal, Canada. (Theme 3) (abstract submission) Kontor-Manu, E., Marshall, M.I., Wiatt, R.D., and Feng, Y. (2024). Implications of consumer expectations and produce safety regulations to the small size farmer in Indiana. International Association of Food Protection Conference. (Theme 4) Marshall, M.I., Fitzgerald, M., Lee, Y., Wiatt, R., Cheang, M., and Mukembo, S. (January 2024). Socioemotional Wealth among Business Owning Couples. Presentation at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Birmingham, Alabama. (Theme 4) January 2024: Marshall, M.I., Fitzgerald, M., Lee, Y., Wiatt, R., Cheang, M., and Mukembo, S. Socioemotional Wealth among Business Owning Couples. Presentation at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Birmingham, Alabama. Sydnor, S., Jorgensen, J., Zuiler, V., Jasper, C. & Visser, A. (2024, July 24-26). The role gender and family play in businesses’ perceptions of wealth & well-being under sudden shocks. Presented at the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Researchers from the University of Wyoming and Kansas State University, with contributions from researchers from West Virginia University, Florida State University, and Colorado State University submitted and presented a “round-table” symposium at the International Federation of Home Economics (IFHE) World Congress in Galway, Ireland in June 2024. The purpose of this symposium was for scholars to brainstorm and share innovative educational approaches to assisting the shift of the fashion industry toward a circular, regenerative system. Manuscripts- Work in Progress New research led by Dr. Niehm, Dr. Machiraju, and graduate student researchers focuses on social-emotional well-being and small business success. The research explores variables from the NCR-Stat Small Business Survey (Wiatt et al., 2024). It focuses on the performance and sustainability of small rural businesses that invest in employee well-being by offering a variety of benefits, job flexibility, and other factors centered on work-life balance. This new data set offers a rich opportunity to examine a large sample of small businesses (N=1,287) from the North Central Region concerning small businesses, employer benefits, and rural health. Based on this research, an emerging research submission is being developed for the 2025 US Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Conference. A manuscript for submission to an academic journal is also planned for 2025. Dr. Niehm, the Iowa representative, has engaged in collaboration with a multidisciplinary group of scholars (Manchiraju, Niehm, Diddi, LeHew, and Das) from the NC 1030 project group focused on Theme 4: Contributions of Socioemotional Wealth, Rurality, Collaboration and Race on Resilience and Success of Family-Owned SMEs. The team used data from the Small Business Values Survey (2019) to submit an abstract to the US Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) in 2023 under the Emerging Research track. This research addresses Theme 4, objectives 1, 2, and 3, and the emerging paper is now being developed into a full manuscript for publication. Lee, Y., Marshall, M., & Wiatt, R. Giving, Selling, or Liquidating: Exit Strategies of BIPOC Small Business Owners. Preliminary regression results show that BIPOC business owners were more likely to choose stewardship exit strategies rather than liquidate. This finding is consistent with previous findings. BIPOC business owners were also more likely to give or sell their businesses to familiar successors than to liquidate their businesses. Extension Presentations (Theme 5) February 22, 2024: Succession Planning for Farm Businesses: Management Transfer and Farm Family Meetings. Presented by Renee Wiatt at the 2024 Midwest Mint Growers Conference, South Bend, Indiana. (Theme 5) February 21, 2024: Handling the Inevitable: Dealing with Conflict in Succession. Presented by Renee Wiatt at the Ag Women Engage Pre-Conference, Transferring the Farm’s Legacy Program. Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana (Theme 5) February 15, 2024: Transitioning the Family Farm: Management Transfer and Farm Family Meetings. Presented by Renee Wiatt at Peterson Ag Services, Pioneer Annual Meeting. Remington, Indiana. (Theme 5) January 30, 2024: Mind Your Farm Business – Ep. 93: Don’t Wait for the Grave for Farm Transition. Interview on RealAg Radio, Sirius XM by Shaun Haney of Renee Wiatt: https://www.realagriculture.com/2024/01/mind-your-farm-business-ep-93-dont-wait-for-the-grave-for-farm-transition/. (Theme 5) January 23, 2024: Management Transfer, Buy-Sell Agreements, and Job Descriptions. Presented by Renee Wiatt and Ed Farris. Indiana Horticultural Conference and Expo, Danville, Indiana. Engagement/Outreach LeHew, M. L. A., Doty, K., Irick, E., Das, D., Diddi, S., & Manchiraju, S. (2024, June). Charting the future of fashion: Identifying transformative education approaches. Presented at the XXV IFHE World Congress 2024, June 23-28, Galway, Ireland. Doty, K., Greder, K., Cobb, K., & Griffin L. (2024, April). Dancing with systems: A solutions-focused philosophy for integrating circular economy principles into design education and practice. [Oral presentation]. Fashion and Play Symposium Proceedings. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. Abstracts: Doty, K., LeHew, M. L. A., Irick, E., Jorgensen, J., Das, D., Manchiraju, S., & Diddi, S. (2024). A sustainable fashion industry is imperative and a transition to a circular economy (CE) will assist in reaching that goal. CE replaces the linear take-make-waste model with one where all products, post-use, undergo decomposition or are reprocessed into new items. The realization of a circular fashion system demands the re-localization of fiber, fabric, and apparel production to reduce the production of carbon through shipping. Unfortunately, the U.S faces a challenge in a circular economy transition due to the insufficient infrastructure resulting from the loss of production capacity through globalization. The proposed project explores challenges and opportunities confronting the development of a sustainable wool industry in the North Central region and identifies avenues for economic development fostering entrepreneurial activities throughout the supply chain, and long-term success of small wool fiber-based businesses, while enhancing rural community vitality. The project aligns with NCRCRD priority to create resilient communities and economies. LeHew, M. L. A., Doty, K., Irick, E., Das, D., Diddi, S., & Manchiraju, S. (2024, June). This concept paper presents a philosophy of the design process for the practice and teaching of design and the circular economy that focuses on solutions and reduces the anxiety associated with contemplating climate change. The researchers guided the audience through a collaborative exploration of the gamification of the design process. Specifically, they examined a dynamic tool that aids designers in creating solutions grounded in circular economy principles. This tool assists designers and circular economy collaborators in articulating and navigating the complexities of designing for a broader system scope with multiple layers of goals (environmental, social, economic), scales (size, time, geographic), stakeholders, material flows, and design elements. Love of Work or Love and Work: Does a Business Owner’s Compulsion to Work Pay Off? A business owner’s compulsion to work is a condition that can have jarring effects on business-owning families. A compulsion to work has been defined as a component of workaholism. A random sample of 478 small business owners in the United States were classified as “compulsive” and “non-compulsive” owners using cluster analysis. A probit regression was used to determine the characteristics associated with being a compulsive owner. The probability of being a compulsive owner was lower for female owners, was higher as the number of children in the house increased, and was inversely related to family-business functioning. Further analysis found that compulsive owners did not have higher business incomes than non-compulsive owners. Thus, a compulsion to work did not appear to pay off for small business owners. We contribute to the literature by identifying factors associated with compulsive owner tendencies and if those tendencies lead to higher business income.  The ‘silver tsunami’: community embeddedness and small business owner exit strategies Over 50% of small businesses in the U.S. have business owners over the age of 55 and the majority do not have a planned exit strategy. Trillions of dollars in wealth will be transferred in the next decade. Business owner exit is associated with financial and non-financial factors. For rural business owners, in particular, non-financial factors or socioemotional wealth may play a key role in the exit strategy they choose. Business owners have many different paths to exit their businesses such as giving, selling, or liquidating their businesses. A multinomial logit model was used to determine the association of socioemotional wealth (SEW) with the choice of four common exit strategies employed by rural small business owners. The data were from a national survey of U.S. small business owners. Business owners with high SEW were more likely choose stewardship strategies rather than liquidate. Rural business owners compared to their urban counterparts were less likely to choose to sell their businesses to non-family members which may have implications for rural main street over the next decade. Yoon, L., Cheang, M., Jasper, V. & Wiatt, R. (2024).  Work-Family Boundary Interaction and Business Performance: How Do Women and Men Business Owners Differ? Community, Work & Family. Abstract:  In this study, we examined the factors associated with business performance among small businesses in the United States, while comparing differences in work-family interface issues between women (n = 266) and men (n = 232) business owners (N=498). Using data from the 2019 Small Business Values Survey (SBVS), regression results indicated that all else being equal, women business owners reported significantly lower business income than their men counterparts. Regression results also revealed that work-family boundary disruption was positively associated with perceived business profitability and successful family-business functioning was positively associated with both perceived profitability and business income. On the other hand, operating businesses from home was negatively associated with both perceived profitability and business income. Martinez-Palomares, J., Valdivia, C., Cheang, M., Zuiker, V. & Katare, B. (2024).  Coping Strategies of Families and Small Businesses in Times of Significant Income Reduction or Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Journal of Family and Economic Issues. Abstract:  What strategies do families and small businesses across the United States use to cope with a drastic reduction or loss of income because of the COVID-19 pandemic?  Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted using a nationally representative sample to examine the association between coping strategies used to deal with income reduction or loss, and health and subjective well-being. Findings suggest that while families and small businesses are resourceful in normal times, during periods of non-normative shocks of such magnitude and extended period of time as the COVID-19 pandemic, without systems and structural supports from the government, the conventional ways of coping (e.g., use of savings, reaching out to family and friends, and getting assistance from food pantries) may not be sufficient to help families and small businesses to recover from such unexpected life events.

Impact Statements

The collaborative work that the NC1030 multistate research group produces reaches a broad audience. The findings from their research productivity inform small business owners, researchers, educators, extension professionals, national organizations, community organizations, center directors as well as policy makers. Their findings have been presented at national, state, and international entities as well as with the extension communities across the country, and many of the educators incorporate their findings and present these findings to their classrooms and when working with the next generation of scholars.
Examples of impact include providing important insights into factors that exacerbated income losses as well as insights into which funding strategies significantly reduced the time to recovery.
Another example of impact from their findings is that it contributes to the literature by identifying factors associated with compulsive owner tendencies and if those tendencies lead to higher business income.
Additionally, the findings can aid women small business owners, particularly home-based business owners, and give them more guidance in creating the capacity to maintain balance between work and family life.
Also, the information gained from their research findings is useful to inform small business owners how to co-manage in the business, and for coping strategies of the business and the individuals.
Lastly, their findings inform community decision-making, support systems and networks, and policies that enhance the quality of life for small business owners, thereby strengthening the workforce and boosting local economies in rural communities.

Date of Annual Report: 12/22/2025

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/13/2025 - 10/14/2025
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2024 - 09/30/2025

Participants

● Das Debanjan –West Virginia University
● Sonali Diddi- Colorado State University
● Kelsie Doty –Kansas State University
● Jennifer Harmon- University of Wyoming
● Erin M. Irick- University of Wyoming
● Jennifer Johnson Jorgensen – University of Nebraska – Lincoln
● Yoon Lee – Utah State University
● Melody LeHew – Kansas State University
● Stephen Mukembos – University of Missouri
● Linda Niehm - Iowa State University (Co-chair)
● Amy Shane-Nichols - University of Wyoming
● Virginia Solis Zuiker – University of Minnesota (Co-chair)
● Cynthia Jasper – University of Wisconsin (attended via Zoom)
● Jeannette Thurston-- Administrative Advisor

Brief Summary of Minutes

NC1030: Sustainable and Resilient Systems

Annual Meeting Agenda

NC1030 Google Drive Folder

Zoom Link: https://ksu.zoom.us/j/94130225425?pwd=DWX8yhVea93z1hQEqlPUnebZRx7xZc.1

October 13 & 14, 2025

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

(All times are listed in Central Standard Time)

In-Person: Virginia Solis Zuiker, Linda Niehm, Meldoy LeHew, Kelsie Doty, Sonali Diddi, Stephen Mukembo, Erin Irick, Amy Shane-Nichols, Jennifer Harmon, Jennifer Johnson Jorgensen, Yoon Lee, Debanjan Das, Jeannette Thurston.

Online: Cynthia Jasper

Monday, October 13

Leadership Building Room 201, Kansas State University

Welcome + Announcements

Introductions

Greetings and Welcome from Dean Brad Behnke

Meeting overview
- Virginia opened the meeting: this will be more of a working and writing meeting.

USDA NIFA Updates

Jeanette Thurston – Administrative Advisor

Jeanette’s presentation

Note: We need to nominate ourselves for the agNC Excellence in Multistate Research Award

Some multistates research projects have international and industry members.

Jeanette is one of our reviewers for renewal and sole reviewer for midterm reports.

Make sure to update the NIMSS member list.

Individuals can be on more than one multistate research project.

5-Year Project Writing Committee Update- Erin

NC1030 New 5-Year Project

Description Update from Grant Writing Committee on the new proposal.

NC1030 set objectives at our last annual meeting.

Need to remove words such as “sustainable” “women” “minorities”

Worked on a new title for our 5-year project.
- Voted and agreed on: Advancing Rural Economies, Resilient Enterprises, and Thriving Communities through Adaptive and Transformative Practices.

-Lunch-

Reviewed and Voted on Updated Objectives

Updated objectives:

Objective 1: Identify the internal and external factors impacting the well-being of MSMEs and communities.

Objective 2: Identify and evaluate responses by MSMEs and communities to the internal and external factors impacting their well-being.

Objective 3: Inform policy or practice related to the well-being of MSMEs and communities.

*And we are not changing these objectives*-So says the Keeper of Records

5-Year Project Themes via Interest Groups

Worked towards combining Themes 2&3 and 1&4.

Business Meeting

Reminder: 2026 Annual Meeting will be at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming.

State Reports

Each member reported out on annual research activities and accomplishments. Please see annual report for a full description of activities and accomplishments

Handbook Discussion (Cynthia)

Voted to accept changes made to the structure of the Executive Committee.

Changes will be in effect January 1^st 2026.

Kelsie willing to serve as keeper of record until January 2026. Does not want to go into the chair-elect cycle, however.

We need to elect a secretary every year beginning in 2026.

Linda: Jan. 1, 2026—chair ; Melody chair elect

Erin is already approved for 2026-2028 as chair elect.

Strategic Planning:

How to position our team for one of the regional or national awards for multi-state groups.

Virginia suggested a sub-group to investigate.

See links about awards sent to us by Jeanette. We need to make these nominations through our university Experiment Station directors.

Multistate Research Award from 2025

Award Calls | agInnovation NC

Nominations due in March!

Missing Areas of Expertise, People to Invite to Join NC 1030

New members need to join through an AES station at their school OR Jeanette can assist in adding those people outside of AES schools.

Looking for Individuals in the Following Areas:

Industry Partners

Ag economic person or two

Succession planning/multi-generational Innovation

Circular economies in other industry sectors

Hospitality and Tourism

Community Development

Declarations

Cindy explained the proposal process and Linda gave examples.

Tomorrow

Start at 8:30 am and will revisit the new proposal then. We will meet in the same room.

Tuesday, October 14

Leadership Building Room 201

Breakout Rooms

Leadership Building Room 218

Leadership Building Room 247

Leadership Building Room 253

5-Year Project

Combined Themes 2&3 and 1&4.

Reviewed the new Theme One: Prosperity, Well-being, and Vitality of Rural or Family-Owned MSME’s and Communities and Theme Two: Roadmap for Fiber-Based MSMEs: Transitioning Toward a Circular Bioeconomy.

Deleted research questions from 5-year project, the team determined they were not necessary.

Broke out into Theme One and Theme Two to review Related, Current, and Previous Work.

11:30 – 12:30 PM

Lunch at JP’s in the Kansas State Union

Collaboration Group Work

Breakout groups focused on major themes (e.g., fiber, family, MSMEs)

Synthesis of contributions

Break

2:30 – 5:00 PM

Collaboration Group Work

Next meeting location: 2026 – University of Wyoming

5:00 Meeting Adjourned

Accomplishments

The full NC1030 research team met virtually every other month during the reporting period to share and discuss ongoing research activities. Smaller groups met throughout the year to discuss ongoing research and to progress with the work begun on manuscripts. The NC1030 research team produced the following works during 2024-2025: four articles were published, six manuscripts were in various stages (submitted, in review, or in revision), eight extension publications were published, three funded grants were secured, and seven conference presentations were made. Drs. LeHew and Jorgensen Johnson are serving as guest editors for a special issue of the Sustainability journal titled: Small Business Strategies for Sustainable and Circular Economy to be published in 2026. The research works reported are collaborative across states.  Specific accomplishments are represented by the three project objectives which are derivatives of the five themes.  NC 1030: Five Themes 1) Rural Small Business Recovery and Resilience to Natural Hazards; 2) Sustainable and Resilient SMEs in a Regenerative Fiber and Food System; 3) Entrepreneurial and Innovative Response to Disruption and System Shocks by Family-Owned SMEs; 4) Contributions of Socioemotional Wealth, Rurality, Collaboration and Race on Resilience and Success of Family-Owned SMEs and 5) Impact of Transgenerational Control and Transfer within Family Businesses on Resilience and Recover.  Three Objectives:  <ul> <li>Objective 1: Identify and measure the sources of major change and disruption and the structural barriers that impact the family/household, the business, or the community.</li> </ul> NC-1030 colleagues from Nebraska, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California to co-author a research article examining the wealth and subjective well-being of small business owners. This work builds on the Sustainable Family Business Theory by deepening the understanding of how personal well-being intersects with business ownership. Research revealed how small business owners experienced life satisfaction during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing the relationship between personal well-being and business performance under economic stress. Using the Sustainable Family Business Theory and statistical modeling, the results emphasize the role of psychological resilience, prior business success, and demographic factors in shaping outcomes during crises. These results offer valuable insights for small business owners and retail managers, highlighting the importance of health, wealth, and identity in shaping overall well-being.   In collaboration with colleagues from Florida, Visser continues efforts to measure economic resilience in rural communities and identify sufficient elements to identify “major shocks” or disruptions in long-term economic trends.  <ul> <li>Objective 2: Identify and measure transformative responses to the positive and negative impacts of change and disruption on the family/household, the business, or the community. </li> </ul> Lee, Cheang, Jasper, and Wiatt collaborated and examined the factors associated with business performance among small businesses in the US, while comparing differences in work-family interface issues between women and men business owners.  Regression results revealed that work-family boundary disruption was positively associated with perceived business profitability, and successful family-business functions were positively associated with both perceived profitability and business income. Additionally, it was found that operating businesses from home was negatively associated with both perceived profitability and business earnings.  <ul> <li>Objective 3: Determine and inform policy or practice related to the well-being of the family, the business, or the community. </li> </ul> Marshall, Wiatt, Lee have worked on two projects focused on small business exit strategies. 1) While much of the existing research has focused on succession planning in family businesses or dichotomous exit strategies, few studies have examined how race and ethnicity shape owners’ preferences for various exit options. Using a unique national dataset of 486 small privately held U.S. businesses and guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study investigated the associations between race/ethnicity, desired intention, conflict, socioemotional wealth (SEW), owner and business characteristics, and stewardship exit intentions (e.g., giving or selling the business to family) compared to liquidation. Our multinomial logistic regression results indicate that racial-ethnic minority business owners, alignment between desired and expected exit intentions, lower levels of conflict, higher SEW, and family business ownership were associated with a greater likelihood of choosing stewardship strategies compared to liquidation. Specifically, racial-ethnic minority owners were more likely than White owners to intend to pass the business down to their family rather than liquidate it. The findings can provide implications for business consultants, policymakers, and educators to help small business owners prepare for the future and transition of their operations.  Another project of Marshall, Wiatt, and Lee stated that over 50% of small businesses in the U.S. have business owners over the age of 55, and the majority do not have a planned exit strategy. Trillions of dollars in wealth will be transferred in the next decade. Business owner exit is associated with financial and non-financial factors. For rural business owners, in particular, non-financial factors, such as socioemotional wealth, may play a key role in the exit strategy they choose. Business owners have various paths to exit their businesses, including giving, selling, or liquidating them. A multinomial logit model was used to determine the association of socioemotional wealth (SEW) with the choice of four common exit strategies employed by rural small business owners. The data were from a national survey of U.S. small business owners. Business owners with high SEW were more likely to choose stewardship strategies over liquidation. Rural business owners, compared to their urban counterparts, were less likely to choose to sell their businesses to non-family members, which may have implications for rural main street over the next decade. Marshall, Wiatt, and Lee are also working on a project focused on co-preneurs and spousal compensation. The compensation patterns of co-preneurial businesses reflect complex dynamics. Co-preneurs are more apt to engage in financial resource intermingling between family and business systems than other family businesses, often blurring traditional salary structures through shared ownership and management responsibilities. This study analyzes 390 co-preneurs businesses using a discrete choice model. The study examined whether spouses earn more, the same, or less than their outside market value based on education and experience. The study reveals important patterns in how married couples structure compensation within their shared enterprises. The results show distinct factors influencing above-market versus below-market spousal compensation. For spouses earning more than market rates, the spouse’s actual salary demonstrates a strong negative relationship, suggesting that even above-market compensation may be modest in absolute terms, or that highly compensated spouses still earn less than their market potential. Female respondents are significantly more likely to report that their spouses earn less than market rates, potentially reflecting the constrained business resources affecting female-led enterprises. Larger firms (more employees) are more likely to compensate spouses below market rates. Spouses working longer hours are also more likely to earn below-market compensation. This suggests that increased involvement and business scale don’t necessarily translate to fair market compensation. The percentage of business income allocated to household expenses was negatively associated with both above and below-market compensation scenarios, indicating that resource allocation decisions significantly impact spousal pay structures. These findings highlight the complex tradeoffs co-preneurs navigate between business sustainability, family financial needs, and equitable compensation. Research combining both Objectives 1 and 2 are detailed below:  NC-1030 members from Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, Utah, West Virginia, and Florida collaborated on a systematic literature review aimed at identifying opportunities for circular fiber-based supply chains across the U.S. The project’s anticipated impacts include job creation in agriculture, enhanced opportunities for rural populations and businesses, and improved resource management through waste reduction—ultimately contributing to resilience and regional economic vitality. The project aims to develop a transformative framework for more efficient and sustainable use of agricultural and natural fibers (e.g., wool, agri-based fiber), with promising implications for agriculture, retail, workforce development, and related industries.  Dr. Niehm collaborated with a multidisciplinary group of scholars (LeHew, Diddi, Niehm, Inwood, Jasper, Jorgensen, Das, and Visser) from the NC 1030 project group, focusing on Theme 2: Sustainable and Resilient SMEs in a Regenerative Fiber and Food System. The research group is developing a proposal for external funding to cover team development and meetings, preliminary data collection, and other activities that facilitate multi-state collaboration, ultimately leading to outputs (i.e., research publications and Extension publications). The proposal will be submitted in 2026 and, if funded, will support collaborative work for a period of three years. In addition, Dr. Niehm has also been invited to contribute a paper to a special issue of the journal Sustainability in 2026, in collaboration with team members LeHew and Jorgensen. The manuscript, focused on SME sustainability strategies and practices, is currently in progress.  Greder is working closely with a multidisciplinary subgroup of seven scholars (LeHew, Diddi, Jorgensen, Das, Nichols, Manchiraju, Greder) within Theme 2. The group is conducting a systematic literature review of a broad array of research related to fiber systems and product supply chains. The project, with multiple streams of dissemination, aims to highlight the gap between industry and academia in terms of practical, applied solutions for the shift toward circularity in fiber and fashion supply chains. Abstracts on various streams of this research topic were submitted and accepted in the funding cycle. One abstract, titled “Bridging the Gap between Scholarly Research and the Fashion Industry’s Transformation to Circularity,” was accepted to the International Textile and Apparel Association’s 2025 annual conference.  In addition to being accepted to the conference, the project team was encouraged to submit for the annual Best Paper award. Approximately 25% of accepted abstracts are encouraged to submit the full paper for the Best Paper award. The second abstract, titled Circular Fashion Through the Lifecycle Lens: Analyzing Scholarly Research Trends and Gaps, was accepted to the Corporate Responsibility Research Conference in Paris, France, in October 2025. The abstract more narrowly focuses on the use of the same dataset from the systematic literature review, in concert with a discussion of planetary boundaries and corporate social responsibility, again with a focus on the chasm between academic research and its applicability in applied, industrial contexts in fashion and fiber systems. Both projects are being developed into a full paper for submission in 2026, with a target journal already identified.  Research combining both Objectives 2 and 3 are detailed below:  Researchers from Missouri and Indiana collaborated to present a research abstract examining how interpersonal trust, institutional trust, and social embeddedness influence the well-being of entrepreneurs and the financial performance of their businesses in the North Central United States. Drawing on institutional theory and social capital theory, we analyze survey data from 693 small and medium entrepreneurs across 12 states to understand how these factors contribute to entrepreneurial outcomes in both urban and rural contexts. Using structural equation modeling, our findings reveal that interpersonal trust and social embeddedness have a positive effect on entrepreneur well-being, while institutional trust shows no significant effect. Furthermore, entrepreneur well-being mediates the relationship between interpersonal trust, social embeddedness, and business financial performance. They also noted that location moderates the relationship between institutional trust and well-being, with entrepreneurs in rural areas showing stronger positive effects compared to those in urban areas.  Collaborators from Utah and Indiana analyzed 500 U.S. small business owners and investigated racial/ethnic differences in business succession planning among small business owners in the U.S. We found that BIPOC owners were more likely to pursue stewardship exits (giving or selling to family or outsiders) over liquidation than White owners. While employing the Theory of Planned Behavior, we found that favorable attitudes (alignment between expected and desired exits and low conflict), high socioemotional wealth, family involvement, and industry experience are associated with higher likelihood of stewardship exits. The findings further suggest that BIPOC business owners’ collectivist cultural values strongly influenced their business succession intentions. The findings of this study can contribute to entrepreneurship and family business literature by underscoring the broader economic relevance of stewardship exit strategies.  NC-1030 members from Utah, Missouri, and Indiana examined the association between socioemotional wealth and income levels among small business owners and compared the differences in these associations between co-preneurs and business-owning couples.  Research encompassing all three Objectives are detailed below:  Collaborators from Utah and Indiana utilized data from the NCR-Stat: Small Business Survey (Wiatt et al., 2024), which was collected by the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. The findings highlight that women business owners had higher levels of financial stress than men business owners. The findings indicate a significant impact of childcare responsibilities on financial stress, regardless of gender. Specifically, women business owners with primary childcare responsibilities experienced significantly higher financial stress than those without childcare responsibilities. Similarly, men business owners with primary childcare responsibilities also had significantly higher financial stress than men business owners without childcare responsibilities.  NC-1030 researchers from Utah, Indiana, and North Dakota investigated how couple and non-couple business owners differ in use of business managerial strategies when competing demands on time and resources are present in the business or family systems.

Publications

Drs. LeHew and Jorgensen Johnson are serving as guest editors for a special issue of Sustainability journal titled: Small Business Strategies for Sustainable and Circular Economy to be published in 2026. Publications- Published Collaborations with Multistate Team Members Bednarik, Z., Green, J., Marshall, M., Russell, K., Wiatt, R., & Wilcox, M. (2025). North Central Region Household Data. NCR-Stat: Baseline Survey 2024. Purdue University Research Repository. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.4231/NQG5-5V79">10.4231/NQG5-5V79</a>   (Theme 4) Bednarik, Z., Green, J., Marshall, M., Russell, K., Wiatt, R., & Wilcox, M. (2025). Northeast Region Household Data. NER-Stat: Baseline Survey 2024. Purdue University Research Repository. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.4231/SZNQ-GS46">10.4231/SZNQ-GS46</a>    (Theme 4) Bednarik, Z., Green, J., Marshall, M., Russell, K., Wiatt, R., & Wilcox, M. (2025). Southern Region Household Data. SR-Stat: Baseline Survey 2024. Purdue University Research Repository. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.4231/AN8S-1819">10.4231/AN8S-1819</a>    (Theme 4) Edobor, E.W, M.I. Marshall, B. Katare, and C. Valdivia. 2024. Insuring for Cyclone Events: What Matters Most to Small Business Owners? Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, 40(1): 17-37. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.146">https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.146</a> Manuscripts- Work in Progress Dr. Niehm is guiding and advising research with a doctoral student (A. Md. Islam) at Iowa State University using the Small Business Values Survey (2019) data and data from the 2018 and 2021 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS)  “State-by-State Survey” dataset. to examine the following topic:  Financial literacy and resilience of small business owners in the U.S.: Evidence from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Dr. Niehm co-directed the 2025 US Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Rural Entrepreneurship Symposium, held at Iowa State University from July 8 to 11, 2025. The conference was titled “Transforming the Heartland: Rural Retail, Manufacturing, and Tourism Innovation in the Midwest.” The very successful four-day event was attended by approximately 100 academics, professionals, and rural business owners. Stephen Mukembo, NC 1030 representative from the University of Missouri, also attended and gave a research presentation at the rural symposium. In addition to being an event co-organizer, Niehm was also engaged in the following symposium presentations that support NC 1030 themes and objectives, each attended by 60 people: Hurst, J.L., Niehm, L.S., Brown, E., & Tsai, K. (2025). Enhancing community vitality and small business growth in Iowa: Utilizing entrepreneurial internships to empower students and business owners. Tsai, K. & Niehm, L.S. (2025). Digital resilience in rural entrepreneurship: Exploring the role of AI-driven strategies for small businesses. Worall, E. & Niehm, L.S. (2025). From classroom to marketplace: The launch of a student-run retail entrepreneurship lab. Manuscripts Submitted/ In Review/Under Revision Cheang, M., Palomares, J. C. M., Valdivia, C., Katare, B., & Zuiker, V. S. (Submitted, Rejected, Manuscript in Preparation). Families' and small businesses' efforts to cope with income reduction or loss in times of a public health crisis. Debanjan, D., Diddi, S., Manchiraju, S., LeHew, M., Greder, K., Nichols, A. S., & Johnson Jorgensen, J. (In Preparation). Call to Action: Bridging the Gap Between Scholarly Research and Fashion Industry’s Transformation to Circularity. Lee, Y., Cheang, M., Jasper, C., and Wiatt, R. (under review). Work-family boundary interaction and business performance: How do women and men business owners differ?. Community, Work & Family. (Theme 4)  Marshall, M.I., Y.G. Lee, and R.D. Wiatt. The ‘silver tsunami’: community embeddedness and small business owner exit strategies. R&R to Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. (Theme 5) Marshall, M., Wiatt, R., & Johnson Jorgensen, J. (In Preparation). Business Succession using Q Methodology. Sydnor, S., Johnson Jorgensen, J., Solis Zuiker, V., Jasper, C., Wiatt, R., & Visser, A. (In Review).  What Brings Them Joy?  Small Business Owners’ Perceptions of Wealth and Well-Being Under Sudden Shocks. Extension Presentations Peer Reviewed Extension Publications Langenhoven, P., Marshall, M.I., Shoaf, N., & Wiatt, R. (2025 August 8). From soil to market: How integrated decision-making drives vegetable production success. Vegetable Crops Hotline, 759. Available at:  <a href="https://vegcropshotline.org/article/understanding-farm-decision-making-insights-from-the-2024-2025-producer-survey-5/">https://vegcropshotline.org/article/understanding-farm-decision-making-insights-from-the-2024-2025-producer-survey-5/</a>    (Theme 4)  Langenhoven, P., Marshall, M.I., Shoaf, N., & Wiatt, R. (2025 June 13). From soil to market: How vegetable growers are integrating sustainable practices. Vegetable Crops Hotline, 755. Available at:  <a href="https://vegcropshotline.org/article/understanding-farm-decision-making-insights-from-the-2024-2025-producer-survey-2/">https://vegcropshotline.org/article/understanding-farm-decision-making-insights-from-the-2024-2025-producer-survey-2/</a>      (Theme 4)  Marshall, M.I., & Wiatt, R. (2025 September 5). Mixed messages: Why small farmers choose pragmatism over marketing. Vegetable Crops Hotline, 761. Available at:  <a href="https://vegcropshotline.org/article/understanding-farm-decision-making-insights-from-the-2024-2025-producer-survey-6/">https://vegcropshotline.org/article/understanding-farm-decision-making-insights-from-the-2024-2025-producer-survey-6/</a>    (Theme 4)  Marshall, M.I., Langenhoven, P., and Wiatt, R. (2025 May 30). The Connected Farm: How Growers Integrate Practices from Soil to Market. Vegetable Crops Hotline, 754. Available at <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvegcropshotline.org%2Farticle%2Funderstanding-farm-decision-making-insights-from-the-2024-2025-producer-survey%2F&data=05%7C02%7Creneewiatt%40purdue.edu%7C9de92d9d4f1c4c1e954508ddaddaccd9%7C4130bd397c53419cb1e58758d6d63f21%7C0%7C0%7C638857877445450423%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pwIxlCXJOCHd0mbutm0%2FGi0QIQ5ffW96W0oITu0cN9o%3D&reserved=0">https://vegcropshotline.org/article/understanding-farm-decision-making-insights-from-the-2024-2025-producer-survey/</a>    (Theme 4) Wiatt, R. D. (2025, July). Trends for Rural Small Businesses in the North Central Region: Owner and Small Business Demographics. North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. <a href="https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.359223">https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.359223</a>    (Theme 4)  Wiatt, R. and Marshall, M.I. (2025 May 2). Small and medium farms: Does focusing on and communicating with customers pay off? Vegetable Crops Hotline, 752. Available at:  <a href="https://vegcropshotline.org/article/small-and-medium-farms-does-focusing-on-and-communicating-with-customers-pay-off/">https://vegcropshotline.org/article/small-and-medium-farms-does-focusing-on-and-communicating-with-customers-pay-off/</a>  (Theme 4)  Wiatt, R., & Marshall, M.I. (2025 July 25). Succession, family and success: Differences across farm size and farm type. Vegetable Crops Hotline, 758. Available at:  <a href="https://vegcropshotline.org/article/understanding-farm-decision-making-insights-from-the-2024-2025-producer-survey-4/">https://vegcropshotline.org/article/understanding-farm-decision-making-insights-from-the-2024-2025-producer-survey-4/</a>     (Theme 4)  Wiatt, R. and Sydnor, S. (2024, December 11). “How does life satisfaction impact success and profitability in U.S. small business owners?”. Purdue Institute for Family Business Newsletter 2. Available at: <a href="https://ag.purdue.edu/department/agecon/fambiz/_docs/newsletters/2024newsletter2_lifesatisfaction.html">https://ag.purdue.edu/department/agecon/fambiz/_docs/newsletters/2024newsletter2_lifesatisfaction.html</a>   (Theme 4) Grants: Diddi, S., LeHew, M. L. A., Hiller, K., Morris, K.., & Burgess, R. (2024). Building Circular Economy Competencies in Fiber, Textiles and Clothing Curriculum to Enhance Workforce Preparedness. Submitted to USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Higher Education Challenge grant (CG2) program: $733,382 funded. THEME 2; OBJECTIVE 2 <ul> <li>K. Doty, collaborator on the grant project served as workshop leader, delivering the BioCircular Textile Practicum to approximately 15 educators at Fibershed’s headquarters in Point Reyes Station, CA during July 2025 </li> </ul> USDA-NIFA-SAS: Building Resilience to Shocks and Disruptions: Creating Sustainable and Equitable Local and Regional Food Systems in the US Midwest Region and Beyond, 2023-2028, $10 million, Michigan State University.  (Themes 1 and 3) <ol> <ol> <li>Co-PI, subaward to Marshall (AGEC) is $527,506 (Wiatt, collaborator) </li> </ol> </ol> USDA-NIFA-AFRI: Taking the Next Step as a Small and Medium Sized Farm: Understanding the Integration of Production, Food Safety, and Profitability, 2021-2025, $500,000, PI and Project Director: M.I. Marshall, Co-PIs: B. Feng (FS), P. Langenhoven (HLA), N. Shoaf (Urban Ag), and R. Wiatt (AGEC).   (Theme 1) Conference Presentations Das, D., Diddi, S., Greeder, K., Shane-Nichols, A., Jorgensen, J., Lehew, M., & Manchiraju, S., (2025). Circular Fashion Through the Lifecycle Lens: Analyzing Scholarly Research Trends and Gaps. Corporate Responsibility Research Conference 2025, October 2025, Paris, France. Diddi, S., Das, D., Greeder, K., Shane-Nichols, A., Jorgensen, J., Lehew, M., & Manchiraju, S., (2025). Call to Action: Bridging the Gap between Scholarly Research and Fashion Industry’s Transformation to Circularity. International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference, November 2025, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Lee, Y, Marshall, M.I., & Wiatt, R.D. (submitted September 2025). Preserving Family Legacy: BIPOC Perspectives of Small Business Succession Planning. American Council on Consumer Interests Conference. [Conference Abstract for 2026, Long Beach, California]  (Themes 4 and 5) Marshall, M.I., Wiatt, R.D., & Lee, Y.G. Planning to Exit: A Cross-Racial Analysis of Small Business Owner Decision-Making. SBI, New Orleans April 2025. (Theme 4 and5) Marshall, M.I., Wiatt, R.D. & Lee, Y.G. (submitted September 2025). Childcare Responsibilities, Gender, and Financial Stress Among Small Business Owners. Work and Family Researchers Network Conference. [Conference Abstract for 2026, Montreal, Canada]. (Themes 4 and 5) Marshall, M.I., Wiatt, R.D. & Lee, Y.G.  (September 2025). Pay Me What I’m Worth: Copreneurs and Spousal Compensation in U.S. Small Businesses. Work and Family Researchers Network Conference Symposia on Work-Life Issues Among Entrepreneurs. [Conference Symposia Abstract for 2026, Montreal, Canada].  (Theme 4, 5) Mukembo, S.C., Nabisaalu, J.K., & Marshall, M.I. Trust and community embeddedness: Entrepreneur’s wellbeing as a pathway to small business financial performance in the North Central Region of the United States. USASBE 2025 conference, February 12 -15, Las Vegas, Nevada. Emerging Research papers. (Theme 4)   Abstracts Reported 2024-2025  Archila-Godínez, J.C., Kotanko, C., Wiatt, R., Marshall, M.I., and Feng, Y. (2025). “Consumers’ Food Safety Expectations and Risk Perceptions of Produce from Small and Medium-Size Farms”. Journal of Food Science, 90(9). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.70527">https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.70527</a>  (Theme 4) Food safety concerns associated with fresh produce have gained prominence due to recurring foodborne outbreaks and recalls. However, consumer awareness and perceptions regarding food safety in small and medium‐sized farm (SMF) operations remain underexplored. This study assessed consumer expectations and risk perceptions of produce from SMFs through a survey of 916 U.S. consumers. While 85% of respondents considered food safety a minimum quality standard, it was often viewed as secondary to attributes such as freshness, quality, and local production. Most higher‐income consumers (63%) opposed the exemption of SMFs from the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Safety Rule. Consumers identified farmers as key actors in ensuring produce safety, with 75% rating them as extremely influential in maintaining food safety. Additionally, 47% of respondents attributed responsibility to farmers when presented with a hypothetical foodborne outbreak scenario, while a majority believed all commercially sold food should be safe regardless of farm size. Structured equation modeling revealed the interrelationships among constructs, including demographic characteristics, produce handling practices, food safety knowledge, expectation of food safety as a minimum quality standard, perceptions of produce from SMFs, and perceptions of food safety standards for SMFs. These findings provide insight into consumer attitudes toward produce safety and regulatory expectations for SMFs. The results suggest that consumers expect food safety to be an inherent characteristic of fresh produce, yet their perceptions of risk and responsibility are shaped by broader considerations of food quality, sourcing, and trust in agricultural producers.   Feng, Y., Stoll, A., Marshall, M., and Wiatt, R. (July 2025). “Exploring Consumer Willingness to Pay for Food Safety in Produce: A Focus on Small vs. Large Farms”. Journal of Food Protection, 88 (8), 1-7. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100564">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100564</a>   (Theme 4)  Multiple studies have investigated consumers’ willingness to pay premium prices for produce grown under conditions that are more regulated and safer than those of conventionally grown crops. However, little is known about whether the presence of food safety labels and farm size affects consumer willingness to pay for produce at premium prices. The purpose of this study was to identify consumer willingness to pay for produce with a food safety label from various farm sizes to determine consumer food safety preferences. An online survey was conducted with consumers (n = 914), which included a willingness to pay section with four scenarios to purchase produce. Each scenario included farm size, label, and inspection status. A significant majority of consumers expressed a willingness to pay premium price for produce with a food safety label from both small- sized farms (72%; p < 0.001) and large-sized farms (69%; p < 0.001). However, 36% said they were willing to pay a premium of no more than 10% for produce from small-sized farms. The findings of this study indicate an increased price to consumers may not be suitable motivation for farmers to adopt on-farm food safety practices, suggesting other on-farm food safety techniques should be investigated.   Lee, Y., Cheang, M., Jasper, C., and Wiatt, R. (under review). Work-family boundary interaction and business performance: How do women and men business owners differ?. Community, Work & Family. (Theme 4)  In this study, business performance factors among small businesses in the U.S. were examined, while comparing differences in work-family interface issues between women (n = 266) and men (n = 232) business owners (N=498). Using data from the 2019 Small Business Values Survey (SBVS), regression results indicated that all else being equal, women business owners reported significantly lower business income than men business owners. Regression results revealed that higher work-family boundary interaction was positively associated with perceived business profitability. Also, successful family-business functioning was positively associated with both perceived profitability and business income. On the other hand, operating the businesses from home was negatively associated with both perceived profitability and business income.   Marshall, M.I., Lee, Y., & Wiatt, R.D. (submitted, under review). The ‘silver tsunami’: Community embeddedness and small business owner exit strategies. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development.  (Themes 4 and 5)  (Objective 2 & 3)  Abstract: This study examines how socioemotional wealth (SEW) and rural location influence small business owner exit strategies amid the impending "silver tsunami" of Baby Boomer retirements. With over 50% of U.S. small businesses owned by individuals over 55 and most lacking succession plans, understanding non-financial factors driving exit decisions is critical for economic continuity. Business owners with higher SEW were significantly more likely to choose stewardship strategies (giving or selling to family) rather than liquidating or selling to outsiders. For each point increase in SEW, the probability of selling to outsiders decreased by six percentage points and liquidation by seven percentage points. Rural business owners were 13 percentage points less likely to sell to outsiders compared to urban counterparts, preferring family-centered exit strategies.   Marshall, M.I., Y.G. Lee, and R.D. Wiatt. The ‘silver tsunami’: community embeddedness and small business owner exit strategies. R&R to Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. (Theme 5)  (Objective 2 & 3)  Over 50% of small businesses in the U.S. have business owners over the age of 55 and the majority do not have a planned exit strategy. Trillions of dollars in wealth will be transferred in the next decade. Business owner exit is associated with financial and non-financial factors. For rural business owners, in particular, non-financial factors or socioemotional wealth may play a key role in the exit strategy they choose. Business owners have many different paths to exit their businesses such as giving, selling, or liquidating their businesses. A multinomial logit model was used to determine the association of socioemotional wealth (SEW) with the choice of four common exit strategies employed by rural small business owners. The data were from a national survey of U.S. small business owners. Business owners with high SEW were more likely choose stewardship strategies rather than liquidate. Rural business owners compared to their urban counterparts were less likely to choose to sell their businesses to non-family members which may have implications for rural main street over the next decade. Mukembo, S. C., Nabisaalu, J., & Marshall, M. I. (2025). Trust and Community Embeddedness: Entrepreneur’s Well-being as a Pathway to Small Business Financial Performance in the North Central Region of the United States. United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) conference, February 12 -15, Las Vegas, Nevada. Emerging Research papers Submitted and presented a research abstract examining how interpersonal trust, institutional trust, and social embeddedness influence entrepreneur well-being and business financial performance in the North Central United States. Drawing on institutional theory and social capital theory, we analyze survey data from 693 small and medium entrepreneurs across 12 states to understand how these factors contribute to entrepreneurial outcomes in both urban and rural contexts. Using structural equation modeling, our findings reveal that interpersonal trust and social embeddedness positively affect entrepreneur well-being, while institutional trust shows no significant effect. Furthermore, entrepreneur well-being mediates the relationship between interpersonal trust, social embeddedness, and business financial performance. We also noted that location moderates the relationship between institutional trust and well-being, with entrepreneurs in rural areas showing stronger positive effects compared to their urban counterparts.   Sydnor, S., Johnson Jorgensen, J., Solis Zuiker, V., Jasper, C., Wiatt, R., & Visser, A. (In Review).  What Brings Them Joy?  Small Business Owners’ Perceptions of Wealth and Well-Being Under Sudden Shocks. What Brings Them Joy? Life Satisfaction and Success Among U.S. Small Business Owners This study explores how small business owners perceive and experience life satisfaction during economic shocks, focusing on the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Sustainable Family Business Theory (SFBT), we apply a bivariate ordered probit analysis to examine the relationship between life satisfaction and the success and profitability of U.S. small businesses. We focus on business owners of color in the retail and tourism sectors, who often report higher life satisfaction than their white counterparts. The pandemic offers a unique context to observe these businesses under prolonged economic stress. Results reveal that life satisfaction, pre-pandemic business success, gender, and owner age significantly correlate with business outcomes during the pandemic. Female owners of previously struggling businesses reported the lowest life satisfaction, while minority-owned businesses remained optimistic regardless of prior performance. Notably, many business owners of color perceived greater success during the pandemic than before. These insights highlight the importance of understanding how small business owners, particularly those of color, perceive economic disruptions and policy responses. We recommend further exploration of innovative adaptations by minority entrepreneurs as potential models for broader resilience frameworks. Our results suggest that fostering entrepreneurial resilience requires not only financial support but also psychological resources, community trust-building, and recognition of diverse paths to business sustainability during crises.   Circular Fashion Through the Lifecycle Lens: Analyzing Scholarly Research Trends and Gaps Corporate Responsibility Research Conference 2025  Over the past decade, the global fashion industry has increasingly embraced circular economy (CE) principles, emphasizing systems thinking, cradle-to-cradle design, regenerative practices, transparency, life cycle analysis, and resource efficiency (Hvass & Pedersen, 2019). Although scholarly interest in fashion circularity has grown substantially during this time, existing research remains fragmented. While previous reviews highlight key thematic developments, there is still limited clarity on how academic research directly supports the fashion industry’s transition to circularity. This study applies Winakor’s (1969) clothing consumption model to systematically analyze CE-focused scholarly research, categorizing it across four stages of the clothing lifecycle: (i)Design and Production – including product creation and upcycling by vendors, brands, and manufacturers; (ii)Product Distribution and Marketing – processes involved in delivering products to consumers;(iii)Use and Disposal – consumer behavior related to care, repair, laundering, and user-led upcycling; (iv)Waste Management and Miscellaneous – post-consumption handling and additional insights. To achieve this, peer-reviewed journal articles on circular fashion research, indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) database over the past 26 years (2000–2025), were reviewed. The search was conducted using Boolean operators with the terms: “circularity OR circular economy OR cradle-to-cradle OR regenerative” in combination with “fashion OR clothing OR textiles OR apparel OR dress.” The initial dataset included 443 English-language, peer-reviewed articles. Given the interdisciplinary nature of CE research, a screening process was implemented. Titles and abstracts were reviewed to ensure each article explicitly addressed both fashion and circularity, refining the sample to 321 articles. Due to the exploratory nature of this study, a research team of seven scholars conducted a peer review of the titles and abstracts, ensuring that each article was examined twice for accuracy and consistency. On average, each researcher reviewed 91 articles, categorizing them according to the four lifecycle stages. Key findings of this study indicate that scholarly research on circular economy (CE) in the fashion lifecycle stages is heavily concentrated in the product distribution, use, and disposal phases. Specifically, 30% of the reviewed articles focus on the use and disposal stage, with an emphasis on consumer behavior. This includes studies exploring consumer motivations for adopting circular fashion practices, laundering and garment care habits, repair behaviors, and user-driven upcycling activities. In contrast, only 9% of the analyzed articles address the design and production stage. This stage covers both the initial creation of fashion products and upcycling efforts undertaken by vendors, brands, and manufacturers. The relatively lower focus on this stage points to a research gap concerning upstream processes in the circular fashion value chain, such as sustainable material sourcing, design for durability, modularity, and recyclability. Another key theme that emerged within the literature is textile innovation related to waste management. Several studies specifically examine upcycling textile waste into new textile products, investigating both technological advancements and practical applications in recycling processes. Overall, these findings highlight an imbalance in the scholarly focus across the fashion lifecycle, with a predominance of consumer-centered research and comparatively limited investigation into production-level innovations and upstream supply chain interventions. Addressing these gaps could support the development of more comprehensive circular fashion systems that integrate sustainable practices across all stages of the product lifecycle.  References Kant Hvass, K., & Pedersen, E. R. G. (2019). Toward circular economy of fashion: Experiences from a brand’s product take-back initiative. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 23(3), 345-365. Winakor, G. (1969). The process of clothing consumption. Journal of Home Economics, 61(8), 629-634.   Call to Action: Bridging the Gap between Scholarly Research and   Fashion Industry’s Transformation to Circularity  International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference, November 2025  There is a growing sentiment questioning the relevance of higher education and the public impact of scholarly research (APLU, 2020). Over the decades, the role of universities in the U.S. has evolved from a primary focus on teaching and research to becoming dynamic hubs of innovation that drive economic and social progress (Scandura & Iammarino, 2021). There is a consensus that scholarly research is overly theoretical, expanding philosophical discussions within the academic community while offering minimal value creation for industry (Palmer, 2025). Therefore, this narrative aims to provide a grounded perspective and a call to action by developing an agenda that fosters more meaningful and demonstrable changes in how scholarly research in fashion aligns with industry’s transformation toward circularity. The study offers a meta-analysis of literature related to the implementation of circular economic principles and uses the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s (EMF) New Textiles Economy framework as a guiding structure.  The circular economy (CE) is an industrial system that replaces the traditional end-of-life concept with restoration. It promotes renewable energy, eliminates toxic chemicals that hinder reuse, and minimizes waste through superior design of materials, products, systems, and business models (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017). EMF’s report has played a pivotal role in encouraging the global fashion industry to adopt CE principles, emphasizing systems thinking, cradle-to-cradle approaches, regenerative agriculture, transparency, product life cycle analysis, and resource efficiency (Hvass & Pedersen, 2019). Scholarly research on fashion circularity has increased significantly over the past decade. Several recent studies have explored challenges and barriers to fashion circularity using systematic literature reviews (SLRs) (e.g., Abdelmeguid, Afy-Shararah, & Salonitis, 2022; de Aguiar Hugo, de Nadae, & da Silva Lima, 2021). While these reviews provide insights into key thematic areas over time, there is still limited understanding of how academic research contributes to the fashion industry’s transformation toward circularity. This study applies EMF’s framework to analyze scholarly research and assess whether the increasing volume of studies aligns with the industry's evolving landscape and contributes to building actionable solutions. This framework was deemed appropriate as it offers applied, industry-oriented strategies for implementing CE principles, many of which have already been adopted by global fashion brands.  To address the primary objective of this study, peer-reviewed journal articles on circular fashion research, indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) database over the past 26 years (2000–2025), were reviewed. The search was conducted using Boolean operators with the terms: “circularity OR circular economy OR cradle-to-cradle OR regenerative” in combination with “fashion OR clothing OR textiles OR apparel OR dress.” The initial dataset included 416 English-language, peer-reviewed articles. Given the interdisciplinary nature of CE research, a screening process was implemented. Titles and abstracts were reviewed to ensure each article explicitly addressed both fashion and circularity, refining the sample to 261 articles. Due to the exploratory nature of this study, a research team of seven scholars conducted a peer review of the titles and abstracts, ensuring that each article was examined twice for accuracy and consistency. On average, each researcher reviewed 74 articles, categorizing them according to the four key principles outlined in the EMF Framework. Researchers then coded the findings of each article into sub-themes under these key principles.   Using the four key principles outlined in the EMF report, the findings of this study demonstrate that 40% (n = 104) studies addressed the principle of Designing Out Waste indicating a strong focus on reducing waste at the design stage of products. This was followed by 22% (n = 57) in EMF’s Radically Improve Recycling principle, highlighting efforts to enhance recycling technologies and processes. Only 16% (n=42) of studies addressed the principles of Keep Products and Materials in Use that emphasize the importance of prolonging product lifecycles through reuse, refurbishment, and remanufacturing. There were very few studies (n= 21) that explicitly addressed the theme of Regenerate Natural Systems that addresses restoring natural ecosystems through circular practices. It is important to note that some studies were coded in more than one principle. Interestingly, a substantial portion of the studies (n = 154) were uniquely coded into the "Other" category, indicating a wide range of additional themes not explicitly aligned with the EMF’s framework. This suggests that while core circular strategies are prominent, many studies are exploring alternative or complementary approaches to sustainability. The themes that emerged within the other categories included – communication of fashion circularity consumption practices, studies focused on metrics, accountability, and regional impact of circular business models, circular supply chains, SLRs focused on fashion circularity and social, cultural, and historical aspects of CE. Key findings of this study indicate that scholarly research related to CE in fashion primarily focuses on broad conceptual and theoretical frameworks rather than practical, solution-driven approaches. While many studies align with EMF’s Designing Out Waste principle by addressing textile effluent and dye waste, few offer concrete solutions applicable to industry challenges. The gap is particularly stark in areas such as logistics, business models, supply chain management, and waste management. Less than 10% (n = 23) of the papers analyzed provide innovative or practical contributions. Most scholarly work on CE in fashion takes a macro-level perspective, focusing on frameworks and identifying barriers to CE adoption. This approach often results in repetitive discussions that treat circularity as a trending topic rather than a field requiring actionable and innovative solutions. Scholarly research has been criticized for its overemphasis on theory, technical language, disconnect from industry and community needs, with the primary focus on publishing that generally have lengthy academic timelines diluting the impact and timeliness of scholarly research (Dwivedi et al., 2024).  The most important takeaway from this study is the significant gap between scholarly research and the industry’s need for research-based solutions. From within the academy, addressing this disconnect is imperative to underscore the whole enterprise of fashion education and research. We can adjust curriculum (what we teach) and pedagogy (how we teach), but it is critically important to underscore why we need to teach circularity as a foundational principle. Although the distinction between basic and applied research is well recognized, this disparity appears more pronounced in the social sciences. This raises critical questions about whether academic studies are more aligned with theoretical rather than industry-oriented frameworks (Scandura & Iammarino, 2021) and whether the missing link lies in how research is structured and evaluated within academia.  From an industry perspective, addressing this disconnect is essential to leverage research assets (e.g. labs, studios, research faculty) to shift the narrative around industry’s CE transition. With increasing federal budget cuts and declining investments in higher education and research, universities and scholars must adopt an entrepreneurial approach, one that authentically engages with communities and industries to co-produce knowledge that drives meaningful change beyond academia (PEW, 2019). Cross-sector collaboration among industry, academia, and communities, along with transdisciplinary approaches, unlocks new potential for developing innovative solutions with both practical and policy implications. However, building such collaborations remains difficult due to differences in research missions and motivations between industry and academia (Bodas-Freitas & Verspagen, 2017). Academic incentives primarily focus on faculty research productivity for merit promotion, leaving little time to engage in new lines of scientific inquiry that are industry focused. Developing transdisciplinary collaborations requires time and trust, which the current scholarly ecosystem does not fully support (Dwivedi et al., 2024).  Establishing stronger partnerships between researchers and industry stakeholders can help reshape the narrative and foster innovative, sustainable solutions in the fashion industry. Scholars are encouraged to explore alternative frameworks (e.g., the 4D model in Dwivedi et al., 2024) that provide mechanisms for bridging the divide between academic research and industry applications. To close this gap, this study calls for a reevaluation of academic frameworks to ensure their relevance to industry challenges and advocates for institutional changes that prioritize applied research and industry partnerships. While assessing the true impact of scholarly research is complex and multifaceted, the academy needs to engage in critical dialog to expand the metrics of impact that go beyond the traditional   quantitative measures such as citation counts, h-indices, and journal impact factors.  References  Abdelmeguid, A., Afy-Shararah, M., & Salonitis, K. (2022). Investigating the challenges of applying the principles of the circular economy in the fashion industry: A systematic review. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 32, 505-518.  APLU. (2020). Driving U.S. Competitiveness Through Improved University-Industry Partnerships. Retrieved March 30, 2025, from The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities: https://aplu-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/driving-us-competitiveness-through-improved-university-industry-partnerships.pdf  Bodas Freitas, I. M., & Verspagen, B. (2017). The motivations, institutions and organization of university-industry collaborations in the Netherlands. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 27, 379-412.  de Aguiar Hugo, A., de Nadae, J., & da Silva Lima, R. (2021). Can fashion be circular? A literature review on circular economy barriers, drivers, and practices in the fashion industry’s productive chain. Sustainability, 13(21), 12246.  Dwivedi, Y. K., Jeyaraj, A., Hughes, L., Davies, G. H., Ahuja, M., Albashrawi, M. A., & Walton, P. (2024). “Real impact”: Challenges and opportunities in bridging the gap between research and practice–Making a difference in industry, policy, and society. International Journal of Information Management, 78, 102750.  Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017, November 27) A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/a-new-textiles-economy

Impact Statements

The collaborative work that the NC1030 multistate research group reaches a broad audience. The findings from their research inform small business owners, researchers, educators, extension professionals, national organizations, community organizations, center directors, as well as policymakers. These collaborative NC1030 multistate researchers continue to present at national, state, and international conferences, as well as with extension communities across the country. Many educators incorporate their findings and present them to their classrooms, and when working with the next generation of scholars. Examples of impact include providing important insights into helping rural business owners exit their businesses most effectively at the time of retirement. Another example of their research’s impact focuses on aiding women small business owners, particularly home-based business owners, to give them more guidance in creating the capacity to maintain balance between work and family life. Additionally, findings highlight the importance of stewardship business exit and its impact on the community. Their research findings have the potential to give greater insights into the advantages and disadvantages of couples working together in operating a business. Additionally, their research findings have implications for small business owners and business consultants, helping them understand the importance of resource allocation decisions in couples who operate small businesses. Furthermore, building a place-based fiber economy has the potential to enhance rural development in the North Central region. The research from the systematic literature review project provides an important framework for addressing scholarship related to fibers and fiber systems in the context of the global supply chain. Policy makers could benefit from their findings by understanding the importance of providing childcare assistance, especially for small business owners. Lastly, these collaborative findings from their research productivity inform community decision-making, support systems and networks, and policies that enhance the quality of life for small business owners, thereby strengthening the workforce and boosting local economies in rural communities.