Start Something That Sustains You – and Shapes the Place You Call Home
Sierra Commons helps rural entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into real businesses that serve both the founder and the local community
Business Courses
We help people launch rural businesses with staying power. Our approach combines practical education, real-world support, and a deep belief in the value of local business.
Business Ignitor
A structured path for turning your idea into a working business.
Food Accelerator
A focused program for food-based ventures built to grow.
Forest Entrepreneurship
Support for rural businesses grounded in natural resources and land stewardship.
Programs built for your first step – and your next.
Robert Trent -Founder and Executive Director
Why Sierra Commons?
We believe rural entrepreneurs can do more than survive.
“Sierra Commons was founded on a simple idea: rural entrepreneurship should be accessible, locally rooted, and supported by community.
For 16 years, we’ve applied our heart-forward approach to help people build businesses that reflect their values, create jobs, and enrich their communities.
This is work worth doing. We’re here to help you do it well.”
Big Dreams Come True.
Stephanie took the Forest Entrepreneur Training course in 2024. Recently, the project she’s been working on for almost a decade was awarded $15.3 million to begin construction of a community-scale 5-megawatt biomass-to-energy power plant.
“Now that the plant will be built, I get to focus my time on the tools and resources afforded me through the Forest Entrepreneur Training to build out our business campus," said Williams.
— Stephanie Williams
President, Forest Biomass Business Center