Franny Brennan of Asheville, N.C., is a New Pioneer.

Brennan, 37, belongs to a new breed of people that emerged a few years ago as the Great Recession sunk in across the nation. They dwell in small towns as well as large cities.

These pioneers were born out of need.

Until about two years ago, the college-educated Brennan worked as the publicist for a nonprofit organization. “It was my favorite job ever, bar none,” she said.

But she lost her job when the charity had to shutter its doors due to the poor economy.

For a while Brennan collected unemployment checks and searched for similar work in North Carolina. When that proved futile, she expanded her job hunting first across the Southeast and then nationwide.

After months of not getting even a nibble on a job, and with her unemployment bankroll evaporating, she knew she had to embrace alternative solutions. (more…)