Business Talk: Why Grant County Entrepreneurs Thrive When We Show Up for Each Other

A community that works together and supports each other grows and succeeds together.

Before the workday began, before inboxes filled and responsibilities pulled everyone in different directions, a group of local business owners, creators, city leaders, and dream-chasing entrepreneurs were invited to gather around warm coffee and pastries at Lola’s at the Inn. It wasn’t a formal workshop. No keynote speaker. No pressure to pitch.

It was simply the latest session of Business Talk, a series hosted and sponsored by the City of Marion—but intentionally designed to welcome all entrepreneurs from across Grant County, no matter where they live or operate.

Just people sitting together—talking honestly about their work, their challenges, their hopes, and their community.

And for a few hours, something important and powerful emerged: connection.

A Different Kind of Business Gathering

What makes Business Talk special is that it’s not built around selling or self-promotion. It’s built around relationship-building.

In today’s conversation, business owners shared the weight of early-morning stress, the realities of juggling families, the fear and thrill of scaling a business, the grind of creative work, and the belief that Marion and Grant County have more potential than people give them credit for.

Some talked about their challenges. Others offered encouragement or ideas. Still others simply listened.

It wasn’t scripted. It wasn’t polished. It was real. And real is where trust starts.

Entrepreneurs need spaces like this—spaces where showing up matters more than showing off.

Why Entrepreneurs Should Get Involved

1. Because entrepreneurship is hard—and you shouldn’t go it alone.

Starting or growing a business is deeply personal work. There are days when it feels like you’re building your dream with one hand and putting out fires with the other.

You need peers who get it—people who know what it is to stay up worrying about payroll, or to navigate city permits, or to wonder if the next social media post will stick.

Business Talk creates room for those conversations.

When one entrepreneur shares, “I’m struggling with this,” another often says, “Me too—but here’s what helped.”

That exchange alone can change someone’s trajectory.

2. Because sharing your experience strengthens the entire ecosystem.

Whether you are seasoned or just starting, your experience has value.

• A six-month-old startup might bring fresh insight into AI tools.

• A twenty-year business owner might offer wisdom on hiring and scaling.

• A home-based baker might teach others how to navigate pop-ups or farmers’ markets.

• A creative might bring ideas about branding or storytelling.

Every entrepreneur carries a piece of the puzzle.
Together, we build the full picture.

3. Because the community’s future depends on people who show up for each other.

Marion and Grant County are in a moment of real change. You can feel it in the energy of conversations, in the number of new ventures taking shape, in the pride business owners have for their neighborhoods and towns.

And as many said today: momentum grows when people believe in their community—and in each other.

Showing up to Business Talk, sharing stories, offering encouragement, and learning from peers helps create a business culture where success doesn’t belong to a few—it becomes the norm.

Community impact is not created by one big idea. It grows through small, consistent conversations.

4. Because trust builds opportunity.

People do business with people they trust.
And trust grows in rooms like this.

Not through business cards.
Not through “networking,” the stale version.
But through vulnerability, honesty, laughter, and shared struggle.

Today, you could feel trust forming—between coffee sips and conversations about kids, schedules, social media frustrations, creative work, and community pride.

And trust becomes the soil where partnerships, referrals, collaborations, and new ideas take root.

5. Because your story may be the inspiration someone else needs.

Entrepreneurs often feel isolated. When they hear someone else say, “I’ve been where you are,” it builds courage.

Your experience—your highs, your lows, your lessons—might be the reason another entrepreneur keeps going.

Business Talk amplifies those stories so others know they’re not alone.

Where the Series Is Heading

The long-term vision for Business Talk is a blend of two things:

Casual, accessible meet-ups:

Pop-up gatherings at local coffee shops and community spaces—low-pressure, welcoming, and relationship-focused.

Deep-dive learning opportunities:

Quarterly or bi-monthly sessions featuring subject-matter experts on topics like:

• Starting up and navigating regulations.

• Managing finances and QuickBooks migration.

• Scaling beyond the first few years.

• Hiring and HR basics.

• Social media and digital presence.

• Using AI to streamline small business operations.

And even smaller, peer-led micro-groups where 4–6 entrepreneurs meet consistently to solve real challenges together—a powerful idea that emerged from today’s discussion.

Whether you’re curious about entrepreneurship, already growing a business, or simply passionate about seeing Grant County thrive, there’s a place for you here.

What Happens When We Support Each Other

Grant County has always been full of resilient people—creatives, makers, builders, dreamers, doers.

But resilience multiplies when shared.

Communities that talk together, support each other, challenge each other, and celebrate each other don’t just grow—they transform.

And the entrepreneurs who show up consistently, who connect honestly, who invest in others—those are the people who will shape Grant County’s next chapter.

Your voice matters. Your experience matters. Your business matters.
And this community is stronger when you’re in the room.