In the past eight years Comeau has extended his empire by acquiring two companies -- Palmer Hargrave, a lighting business in Oxnard, Calif., and Rose Cumming, a textile design firm in New York City -- and quickly moving both businesses to Kansas.
LAST UPDATE: Sep 18 2009 | 11:58 AM ET
Designer Chuck Comeau set up his high-style business in an offbeat location: A windswept Kansas plain 240 miles away from a major airport. More
When chain stores shunned tiny Powell, Wyo., the town's residents took a DIY approach and built the Powell Mercantile themselves. More
Using $2 bills and "buy local" promotions, these 6 towns have launched their own campaigns to keep local businesses alive. MoreSponsors
