The texts of four speeches and seven workshop presentations comprise this report intended to be a resource for rural women seeking careers in business ownership and to assist Minnesota's legislature and others interested in helping them. Presentations provide practical, technical, and inspirational information by 18 women with experience and success in various businesses. Mary Hauser spoke on the plans of the Governor's Council on Rural Development with regard to rural women and business. Marlene Johnson (Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota), Joan Anderson Growe (Secretary of State), and Jane Preston spoke on the promising role of women in the economic growth of rural areas. Author Carol Bly's workshop presentations examined women's values, urging women to stand for positive ethical change as they gain power in the business world. Other workshops were "Re-entering the Job Market" by Jody Halghren and "Tax and Legal Aspects of Business Organizations" by Corrine Lynch. Women in the fields of insurance and investment sales, publishing, computer services, interior design, retail business, health care, and community development participated on two panels that described different approaches to business ownership. A footnotes section includes names and addresses of organizations that provide assistance to women interested in starting/managing their own business. (JHZ)