SMALL BUSINESSES ARE AN IMPORTANT KEY TO RURAL REVITALIZATION AND PROSPERITY. SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE SUBJECT OF RESEARCH ON MANY FRONTS, BUT THERE IS INSUFFICIENT RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO THEIR PLACE IN RURAL COMMUNITY RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE AFTER NATURAL DISASTERS. MOREOVER, THERE IS LIMITED RESEARCH ON THE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE OF WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES AFTER A NATURAL DISASTER. THE BROAD GOALS OF THIS PROPOSAL ARE TO MODEL THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE OF SMALL RURAL BUSINESSES AFTER A NATURAL DISASTER WITH A FOCUS ON WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES. THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT WILL LEAD TO BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF KEY VULNERABILITIES AND ADJUSTMENTS THAT SMALL BUSINESSES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES MAKE TO FULLY RECOVER FROM NATURAL DISASTERS.THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROPOSAL ARE THREEFOLD: 1) TO DEFINE AND ASSESS THE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY OF RURAL SMALL BUSINESSES AFTER A NATURAL DISASTER, 2) TO ASSOCIATE THIS ADAPTIVE CAPACITY WITH POST-DISRUPTION OPERATING OUTCOMES, AND 3) TO ASSESS THE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY OF FEMALE AND-MINORITY OWNED SMALL RURAL FIRMS TO NATURAL DISASTERS. THESE OBJECTIVES ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM PRIORITY AREA: EXAMINE SELF-EMPLOYMENT/NON-FARM PROPRIETORSHIP AND EXPLORE THE FACTORS THAT SPUR THE GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF THESE ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS OR FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR DEMISE. IDENTIFY AND ASSESS POLICIES THAT PROMOTE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, AND THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN, AND ETHNIC AND RACIAL MINORITIES OR RECENT IMMIGRANTS. ?