Thrive Community Partners

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Thrive Community Partners We’re a dynamic duo with decades of experience in economic and workforce development, small business and entrepreneur coaching, and grant writing.

Our passion is igniting potential and fueling success—connecting businesses and communities with resources.

10/16/2026

Young people leave communities. They pursue education, careers, and opportunities elsewhere.

And communities often ask, "How do we get them to come back?"

But maybe the better question is: "What would make them want to come back?"

Affordable housing. Career opportunities. Reliable broadband. A community that welcomes new ideas and makes room for the next generation.

🎙️ In Episode 24 of *Thrive in Five*, Renee challenges the way we think about rural brain drain and why talent retention starts with the conditions we're creating in our communities.

If you build it… they will come. Right?Well, not necessarily.Beautiful, successful, thriving communities and organizatio...
10/15/2026

If you build it… they will come. Right?

Well, not necessarily.

Beautiful, successful, thriving communities and organizations don’t happen by chance. People like you go build them.

But building something that lasts takes more than attracting new businesses, securing investment or celebrating a ribbon cutting.

It takes strengthening what’s already there. Developing a workforce. Addressing housing, childcare and infrastructure needs. Creating the conditions for growth to actually stick.

Because attracting a business is one thing. Giving it a reason to stay is another.

That’s why the order matters.

🎙️ In Episode 23 of Thrive in Five, Sarah explores the laws of attraction in rural economic development and why the strongest communities build their foundations before chasing the next big opportunity.

Build the foundation first and the growth will have a reason to stay!

10/14/2026

Attraction is usually the wrong first step. 😬

When a rural community wants to grow, recruiting new businesses and investment often becomes the priority.

But what if the community isn't ready to support that growth?
Before chasing the next big opportunity, there are three things worth getting right!

🎙️ Listen to Episode 23 of Thrive in Five, where Sarah explains the sequence that matters in rural economic development.

📣 Want to make the most of community feedback? Our free Community Voice Capture Kit can help you turn what you hear into...
10/13/2026

📣 Want to make the most of community feedback? Our free Community Voice Capture Kit can help you turn what you hear into insights you can use - for funding, for strategic planning, for real growth opportunities!

🔗 Download your free copy today at thrivecommunitypartners.com

10/12/2026

Who does your community actually listen to?
🔹 Not necessarily who has the title.
🔹 Not necessarily who leads the organization.
🔹 Not necessarily who shows up first on the stakeholder list.

Sometimes it’s the pastor who’s been there for 30 years. The coach who knows generations of families. The business owner everyone stops to talk to. The neighbor people call when something is happening.

Those relationships create something incredibly valuable: trust.

🎙️ In Episode 22 of Thrive in Five, Renee Smith talks about why community development should start by understanding who already holds that trust.


10/09/2026

What happens when a grant is delayed?
A laptop breaks? A major funder changes priorities?
An unexpected expense hits?

An organization with no reserves and no flexible funding has very little room to respond.

🎙️ In Episode 21 of Thrive in Five, Sarah Stephens Krupp challenges what “financially healthy” actually means for nonprofits and why reserves, adequately funded overhead and financial flexibility aren’t things to apologize for.

A fresh new look! ✨ There’s a lot more waiting for you...The refreshed Thrive Community Partners site is live, and it fi...
10/08/2026

A fresh new look! ✨ There’s a lot more waiting for you...

The refreshed Thrive Community Partners site is live, and it finally feels like a good reflection of who we are, the work we do, and the communities and organizations we get to work alongside.

Take a look around to:

• See how we help with strategic planning, grant strategy, community and economic development, entrepreneurship and implementation
• Explore real stories and the impact this work has helped make possible
• Find practical resources and insights you can actually use
• Catch up on Thrive in Five
• Get to know the experience behind Thrive and why “we’ve sat in your seat” shapes how we approach every partnership

We're here to share we hat we’ve learned and how we might be able to help you move your work forward!

Take a look around and join the Thrivers already diving in on thrivecommunitypartners.com⁠ 🩵💛



10/07/2026

Your business can be profitable and still run out of cash. 😳

🎙️ In Episode 20 of Thrive in Five, Renee breaks down why cash flow is a timing problem and three questions that can tell you a lot about the financial health of your business.

Manage the calendar of your money, not just the total.

Season 2 of Thrive in Five is underway!

10/06/2026

We're going to say it, "Busy isn’t always the same as productive..." 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

And the last few months have been FULL for us!

Podcasting. Speaking engagements. Strategic planning. Grant writing. Client meetings. Community conversations. New partnerships. Lots of miles. Lots of coffee. Lots of really good work.

But October is usually when we start asking ourselves a few important questions:

▫️Where did we invest our time this year?
▫️Which relationships did we invest in?
▫️What work created the most impact?
▫️And what deserves more, or maybe less, of our energy moving forward?

We encourage our clients to ask themselves those questions, too.

Because a full calendar can tell you what you’ve been doing, but reflection helps you decide what’s worth doing next.

As you head into the final few months of the year, what deserves more of your time? 🩵💛

We understand that the planning process is the easy part, and the real work comes when it’s time to put that plan into a...
10/06/2026

We understand that the planning process is the easy part, and the real work comes when it’s time to put that plan into action! 💪

It's not too late to binge listen in 5-minute chunks of time to season one of "Thrive in Five" so we can help you turn good plans into meaningful progress! Then, roll right into season 2 ✌️

Address

P. O. Box 9
Van Buren, OH
45889

Telephone

+14197224588

Website

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