Backing Small Consulting helps businesses, communities, and mission-driven organizations turn ideas into action. We specialize in navigating the complex intersection of local entrepreneurship, regional planning, and long-term economic growth. While our roots are in rural development, our portfolio spans sectors and geographies—from mountain towns and Tribal lands to regional collaboratives and place-based economic initiatives.

With over a decade of experience, our team brings grounded insight and systems-level strategy to every project.

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Our Team

Our team is strategically located across the country, making in-person collaboration accessible, especially for rural, remote, and Tribal communities. Backing Small is a female-led consulting firm built on the belief that economic development should be practical, personalized, and rooted in real-world experience.

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As a mission-aligned team of professionals with diverse backgrounds and shared values, we’re deeply committed to making complex systems more accessible. You won’t find jargon for the sake of it or one-size-fits-all solutions here. Instead, we bring clarity, collaboration, and respect for your unique context. Whether you're navigating a federal application, launching a regional initiative, or planning for long-term growth, we meet you where you are and help you move forward with confidence.

 

Cross-Sector Reach & Results

Our team has worked across major federal agencies, including:

• Economic Development Administration (EDA)

• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• Department of Energy (DOE)

• National Science Foundation (NSF)

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Federal Aviation Administration (FFA)

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Department of Defense (DOD)

• U.S. Department of Commerce

• U.S Forest Service

• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

• National Endowment for Humanities (NEH)

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Certifications & Credentials:

• Certified Grant Writers

• Certified Economic Development Specialists 

• Certified Tourism Experts

• Certified Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development Professionals

• Certified Rural Place-Making Expert

• Sustainability Consultant Certification

• GIS Micro-credential: Foundations

• GIS Micro-credential: Clean Energy Applications

• Artificial Intelligence Ethics Certified

• Microsoft Co-Pilot Certified

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Certified

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In the past two years alone, we’ve helped clients secure:

• Over $550 million in federal and state funding, and

• Nearly $100 million in philanthropic and nonprofit investment.

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We bring more than technical knowledge—we bring commitment, clarity, and a deep understanding of what it takes to make meaningful change in the places that need it most.

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