The Growing Small Towns Club
Where big ideas meet small-town spirit.
If you’ve ever tried to move your small town forward, you know the biggest challenge isn’t always the funding, the planning, or the project.
Sometimes, it’s the people.
The Growing Small Towns Club helps you handle the human side of community work with tools, conversations, and support that make leading feel lighter, smarter, and a whole lot more doable.
Local politics. Resistance to change. Burnout and apathy.
The Club helps you lead through it all with empathy, courage, and fresh ideas that keep your community moving.
What You'll Get as a Club Member
Inside the Club, you’ll get the ideas, energy, and human support
you can’t find anywhere else.
Catalyst Calls
A Network That Gets It
Exclusive Club Perks
Twice a month, members join live calls with GST Founder Rebecca Undem (and special guests) to unpack member challenges.
These aren’t lectures; they’re co-thinking conversations that help you see your challenges from new angles and leave with clarity and momentum.
Connect with people who understand what it takes to keep showing up for their towns.
Share wins, challenges, and encouragement with peers who just get it.
Access to replay, and practical frameworks, tools, and resources you can use right away, plus early access and reduced rates for select GST events.
The GST Club
30
Every month
A virtual support group helping small-town leaders work through their toughest challenges
Valid until canceled
Exclusive access to live and recorded calls with GST
Templates, resources, and examples from other small towns
Discount for workshops and GST programs
A private library of past discussions
Access to coaching with the Rural Ideas Network
Part think-tank. Part pep-talk. Part creative jam session.
Members pre-submit questions, and together we explore fresh, outside-the-box perspectives that unlock clarity, courage, and momentum.
Every conversation helps someone take their next right step, and that ripple effect makes small towns better, one idea at a time.
The Club is for anyone working to make their small town better, whether you’re paid to do it, volunteer to do it, or just can’t stop caring.
Who It's For
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Community leaders (EDC, Chamber, or City officials)
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Volunteers and community organizers
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Local business leaders or entrepreneurs
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Anyone who believes small towns deserve to have big dreams
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? Totally fair.
The Growing Small Towns Club is a little different from your average membership, and we like it that way.
1. What kinds of questions are a good fit for Catalyst Calls? Catalyst Calls focus on the people side of community work—how you show up, how you lead, and how you keep moving forward when it’s hard. Good-fit questions often sound like: “How do I get people excited about this again?” “How do I handle burnout or apathy in my group?” “How can I collaborate better when personalities clash?” “What’s the best way to share this idea so people actually listen?” “How do I stay hopeful when things move so slowly?” If it’s about how you think, lead, communicate, or sustain momentum, let's talk about it!
2. Will I get help with technical or economic-development topics? Sometimes those topics come up, but we’ll always explore them through a human-development lens. Instead of step-by-step tactics, we focus on how to approach those challenges: getting partners aligned, communicating clearly, and leading with courage. If you need technical training or specialized guidance, we’ll point you toward trusted resources.
3. Do I have to submit a question to participate? Nope! Many members love simply listening in. Every call offers perspective shifts, tools, and stories that spark ideas for your own work, even when the question wasn’t yours.
4. What if I can’t attend live? All Catalyst Calls are recorded, and members have access to replays anytime. You can still submit questions ahead of time and get the benefit of hearing them discussed live.
5. Is this group only for people working in local government or economic development? Not at all. The Club is for anyone trying to make their small town a better place to live: entrepreneurs, volunteers, educators, artists, and community champions of all kinds. If you care about people, possibility, and progress, you’ll feel right at home.
6. How is this different from “coaching” or “training”? Catalyst Calls aren’t coaching or lectures; they’re collaborative conversations. We facilitate dialogue that helps you see your challenge from new angles and uncover insights that help you move forward. It’s about clarity, courage, and momentum, not cookie-cutter solutions.
7. What if I’m new to community work? You’re more than welcome! This is one of the best ways to begin, surrounded by peers who’ve been where you are and are eager to cheer you on. You’ll gain confidence, language, and perspective that make your next steps easier.