Jack Schultz’s work as the CEO of Agracel, Inc., a firm that specializes in industrial development in small towns, led him to ponder the roots of rural prosperity. The result of more than three years of research was his popular book, Boomtown USA: The 7 ½ Keys to Big Success in Small Towns. In it, Schultz attempts to answer a perennial question: What separates the thriving towns from the struggling ones?

Boomtown clearly has struck a nerve. The book is in its fourth printing, and Schultz has traveled hundreds of thousands of miles since it published giving nearly 400 presentations to Hometowns across America, helping them realize their greatest potential. He has since retired from the speaking tour, but his book is still available, and continues to be highly recommended to communities as a guide on how to become a Boomtown.