David vs Goliath

Another local store in our area recently closed it's door due to the sagging economy. The owner, on a TV interview, said that he just can't compete with the big retail giants anymore. It's sad that small town businesses are getting phased out at an alarming rate right before our eyes. Gone are the days when people would jump on just about any small business opportunity. Small time investors are afraid to risk their hard earned money on a small business that's bound to fail.

Is there still hope?