From Teacher to Baker: How One Woman Transformed Her Passion into a Rural Business Success

A new project in Komi is encouraging rural development by highlighting job opportunities in its countryside. Called Rural Work: Stay and Grow, the initiative aims to attract residents to local districts while supporting entrepreneurs. One success story comes from Vizzinga, where Tatiana Kukolshchikova turned her baking hobby into a thriving business with state backing. Tatiana Kukolshchikova, a former kindergarten teacher, always loved baking. After graduating from Syktyvkar State University with an education degree, she worked as a teacher and methodologist. But in 2022, her husband's military service became the push she needed to chase her entrepreneurial dream.

With a passion for desserts, she launched her own business specialising in custom cakes, cupcakes, and cheesecakes. Using only natural ingredients, her treats quickly won over locals. Demand grew, and in 2024, she secured over 160,000 rubles in state funding from the Sysola branch of *Rabota Rossii*. The grant allowed her to buy professional equipment, turning her home kitchen into a full-scale production space. Her success comes as part of broader efforts to boost rural Komi. Sysola District alone currently has 105 job vacancies across different sectors. The region has also declared 2026 the *Year of the Village*, making rural growth a top priority.

Tatiana's business now serves a loyal customer base, proving how state support can turn small ideas into reality. With projects like Rural Work: Stay and Grow promoting local opportunities, more residents may follow her path. The initiative continues to highlight the potential of Komi's rural areas for both jobs and entrepreneurship.