Over my head ?

Handy is not so handy with my project. I’v used the forum do a few things but it’s like pebbles from an impending avalanche. I am going to stick with it but need some brute force to get rid of the major blocks. One being my ignorance. I am new to WordPress and code, but not willing to learn. I believe I am causing rather than solving problems. Do you guys have consulting fees?

My project (social enterprise) is an environmentally motivated All Things Local directory, with a heavy slant towards sustainable local economies supporting people/products/farms/projects. I am starting it in CT, with hopes of making chapter directories for other states/large cities with the recreation of this model for those local people to populate it and profit from/sustain it.

It may be too many categories/sub categories for this format. I like having a main map where people can visually see and be inspired by the diversity of local offerings that are not currently cross referenced in one place.

For people to change behavior it has to be easy and expedient, the site needs to model this or else they will just go to the big W. Do think it can be done?
If I split it up into different directories it defeats the benefits of cross marketing and the “at your figure tips” possibility of Thinking Globally and Acting Locally.. maybe this is a project for open source. Though ultimately the goal is having the intimacy/integrity of the locally owned directory that is connected through a hub to all the others rather than one site/business/directory running the whole country/world. More like Craigslist cities, I guess. So multiple directory that are connected is the goal but ownership needs to be local to that directory.

So if the idea functions, these communities will purchase individual directories, with the back end/theme all ready figured out. Sort of where I should be starting at.

What to do.