With a new Jimmy John’s and a frozen yogurt shop, Austin residents are seeing even more business activity in the area.

We are glad to see more franchises, along with more small business owners, step forward to take advantage of a growing population here in Mower County. Austin is one of a handful of rural areas experiencing growth in Minnesota and more business activity will mean even more people coming to work here.

Yet the new businesses are only the most recent example of a growing community. More companies and business owners are looking at Austin developments, more construction companies are being hired for new buildings, and each new business brings even more job opportunities.

While no business is ever certain to succeed — Several local businesses have shut down over the past year — the fact that more businesses are coming to town means the area is ripe for economic opportunities. With initiatives like Vision 2020 and large expansions at businesses like Hormel Foods and Hy-Vee, Inc., there’s plenty of economic activity to be found.

That’s why it’s important to recognize small businesses like Jimmy John’s and the Sassy Strawberry. Those small businesses are signaling big things for our community.