A Rural Business with a Bigger Mission
When Rebecca Price first imagined turning her love for dogs into a business, she knew she had the skills—but not all the answers. “I started by boarding dogs,” she says, “but then I expanded into training, breeding Dalmatians, and volunteering at the shelter. It’s grown so much from there.”
Today, Rebecca runs Dalmatia BnB in Clinton, Missouri, a dog training and boarding business that’s as heartfelt as it is professional. But like many rural entrepreneurs, she hit early challenges. How do you turn a great idea into a sustainable business? How do you build something uniquely yours—and make sure it works?
Why Google Doesn’t Have All the Answers
Like many first-time business owners do, Rebecca started early in her business journey by searching Google. It gave her plenty of information, but even more questions. “There’s a lot out there,” she says. “But it’s hard to know what applies to you, what’s outdated, or what’s even accurate.” Rebecca found herself overwhelmed, not knowing how to connect the dots. What steps mattered most? What was just noise? And how could she be sure she was making the right moves for her particular type of business?
That’s when she reached out and got connected with New Growth Women's Business Center.
“I wasn’t even sure if New Growth could help someone like me,” she admits. “But they absolutely could—and did.”
Through a New Growth microloan, Rebecca was able to invest in essential infrastructure: dog cots and a secure six-foot fence. “I couldn’t have gotten started and do what I do now without those basics,” she explains. “They were crucial for safety and compliance.”
But the support didn’t stop with a loan. Rebecca also received one-on-one business counseling that helped her make sense of something that had once felt out of reach—her own numbers.
“When I first started, I didn’t know how to break apart the different parts of my business,” she explains. “Now I understand it. I went from knowing nothing to having a really good understanding of my own business concept.” With New Growth’s help, she learned to forecast income, set realistic annual goals, and measure her progress with confidence. What once felt overwhelming is now a source of clarity and confidence.
That confidence means everything for Rebecca—not just for her business, but for her family, too. “This summer, I’m taking my daughter and her best friend on her senior trip,” she says proudly. “That flexibility and freedom come from running my own business.”
More Than a Just a Successful Business
Dalmatia BnB isn’t just a business, it’s part of a much bigger mission. Rebecca is deeply involved in volunteer work that connects her dog training expertise with community service. She works with the Clinton Animal Shelter to assess and train adoptable dogs, supports therapy dog visits at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital, and even boards dogs at no cost for families in crisis through her partnership with the Besty BnB network. Her story and impact were featured in the Clinton Daily Democrat.
Rebecca is also creating something new and personal—a nonprofit called Battle Buddy that will provide trained service dogs to veterans with disabilities at no cost to the veteran. As a veteran herself, the mission holds special meaning. When she needed help navigating the nonprofit setup process, New Growth connected her with the right people at University of Missouri Extension. The program will serve both people and animals: dogs are carefully selected from local shelters, giving them a second chance and a new purpose. It’s a win-win—rescue dogs find forever homes,and veterans gain loyal, trained companions. The effort is entirely donation-based, and those who wish to support it can do so through the Dalmatia BnB website.
“This work matters,” Rebecca says. “And having support from New Growth that’s tailored to me—knowing I can ask real questions and get real answers—has made all the difference.”
Fueling More Than Just Economic Development
Rebecca’s story shows how New Growth’s mission of rural business success fuels community development, making communities great places to live.
When a local entrepreneur like Rebecca thrives, the benefits ripple outward. A strong business gave her the stability and capacity to care for others, build connections, and serve her community in meaningful ways. Because Dalmatia BnB is thriving, Rebecca has been able to train therapy dogs for hospital visits, volunteer at the animal shelter, provide free pet boarding for families in crisis, and launch a nonprofit to support fellow veterans. Her success doesn’t stop at her doorstep. It strengthens the entire community.
This is what rural community development looks like—one business creating lasting, local impact.
“I love my job,” Rebecca says with a smile. “And my job loves me back!”