U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Success Stories

A mother and three daughters pose around a dining room table. There are lace curtains and blue wall in the background and some dishes on the table in the foreground.

“This is Home” – A Family Finds Their Forever Home in Calais, Maine

One of the first rooms Heather Gagne and her daughters began redecorating in their new home is the dining room, shown in the top photo. They have been busy repainting and making other updates. Raising a family in coastal Machias, Maine may sound lovely, but for Heather Gagne recent years proved stressful. There were few housing options in the Downeast community, and Heather was glad to find a rental home to…
Read More

Find Stories

Use the filters below to find additional stories about how our programs have helped rural communities across the nation.

Search Results: 890 Stories
PA State Director Chris Hoffman and Michael McShane, MD, Associate Professor of Penn State College of Medicine, stand next to one of the LION mobile units during Ag Progress Days.

A Mission in Motion: LION Mobile Health Center Exemplifies Meeting Rural Healthcare Needs

Accessible and affordable healthcare in rural areas is a major concern across the nation. In Pennsylvania, where the Rural Center for PA estimates 26% of people live in rural communities, this is of particular concern. Finding ways to address it requires ingenuity and adaptation… [Read More]
Pennsylvania
GrantsHealth CareRural Development
Erie-2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES

From Simulation to Success: How USDA Funding Is Transforming Hands On Learning for Students in Western New York

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development is partnering with our rural educational partners and helping them transform hands-on education across Western New York. Across several Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) campus centers in Erie 2-Chautauqua –… [Read More]
New York
Distance Learning
Farmer Kat with squash at farmers market

USDA Value-Added Producer Grants-Funded Project Benefits Wisconsin Farmers Market Producers and More

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing funding through the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program in the farmer-owned Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative (WFHC) project that aims to get more fresh vegetables into schools and childcare centers throughout Wisconsin.Many of… [Read More]
Wisconsin
Rural Development
Students and instructor around anatomage table

Cutting-edge technology provides unique learning opportunity

Located just seven miles south of Sisseton lies Sisseton Wahpeton College. Home to roughly 200 students, the Tribal college offers a wide range of education opportunities from students interested in earning their Commercial Driver’s License certificate to completing a Bachelor… [Read More]
South Dakota
Health CareTechnologyTribal
Justin Owenby receiving certificate of appreciation from USDA Leaders in Athens, Georgia

A Legacy of Vigilance: Protecting USDA Investments

Following a series of retirements and staff departures, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Georgia Program Specialist Justin Owenby inherited a case load of projects and servicing actions in 2025 for various USDA investments.While familiarizing himself with one of… [Read More]
Georgia
Grants
Minnesota Home In Need of Repair

USDA Provides Essential Relief for an Elderly Homeowner in Minnesota

This spring, USDA Rural Development Minnesota Loan Specialist Carol Wimmer reviewed a home repair grant request from Virginia Bailey, an elderly Minnesota homeowner facing a serious health and safety crisis. After a period of extreme cold, Virginia’s water pipes had frozen and… [Read More]
Minnesota
Home Repair
Newly finished Randolph Fire Station

A Stronger, Safer Future for the Town of Randolph Through Rural Development

The Town of Randolph, Maine, has taken a major step toward strengthening emergency services and safeguarding residents with the construction of a new, modern fire station. This project was made possible through a $2.6 million Community Facilities investment administered by USDA… [Read More]
Maine
Community FacilitiesFirst Responders
Mrs. Perez shared that this new chapter represents more than just a house.

A Dream Becomes Home in Arecibo

For years, Mrs. Perez has called the beautiful town of Arecibo home. As the proud owner of Patriarca, a beloved artisanal shop in the community, she has always poured her heart into serving her neighbors. Yet despite her hard work and dedication, she continued to live in a… [Read More]
Puerto Rico
HomeownershipHousingRural Development
Wyoming County Fire Training Center

From Needs To Readiness: Strengthening Wyoming County’s Emergency Response

In rural communities, like Gainesville, New York, preparation is not a luxury - it can be a lifeline. With a large rural jurisdiction, volunteer-dependent services, and evolving challenges that range from severe weather to public health emergencies, training and response time… [Read More]
New York
Community Facilities

Additional Success Stories