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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 their Downeast community, and Heather was glad to find a rental home to…
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Use the filters below to find additional stories about how our programs have helped rural communities across the nation.

Search Results: 84 Stories

Veterinary Clinic Expanding to Meet Industry Needs

The West River Veterinary Clinic (WRVC) is providing essential animal services in the largely agriculture region of southwestern North Dakota. Initially founded as a mobile practice in 1969, the demand for services quickly brought the need to build a permanent clinic. Since then… [Read More]
BusinessEconomic DevelopmentRural Development
Life Floor

“Made in the USA” Versatile Tile Manufacturer Receives Support From USDA

Life Floor Manufacturing, Inc. is a leading designer of slip resistant tiles commonly used around pools and waterparks. In an effort to better serve their customers, they adopted  a lean manufacturing focus  and brought manufacturing home, moving operations… [Read More]
BusinessEconomic DevelopmentManufacturingRural Development
ChugTel co-owner Jim Moberly

Chugwater Area Receives 100% Broadband

Chugwater Telephone Company (‘ChugTel’) is headquartered in Chugwater, Wyoming, and has offered communications services to this small rural community for decades. Known as the “Little Town with a Big Heart,” Chugwater is in a sparsely populated region, however the residents and… [Read More]
Business
New grocery coolers

Coolers for Rural Grocery Increase Options for Community

Rural communities deserve access to the high-quality food found throughout groceries in large cities. Unfortunately, with the sparse population across southwestern North Dakota, it can be economically challenging to operate a full-service grocery in the area. In the small town… [Read More]
Business
Two owners behind store counter

Farmtastic Food Hub Celebrates Anniversary

Two entrepreneurs and the people of Anamoose recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of a new bakery and food hub in rural North Dakota. Farmtastic Heritage Food Hub opened last year to provide fresh, homemade meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients to guests, along… [Read More]
BusinessSmall Business
Staff w/ Holiday Inn Express, Evanston, WY 07-2019

Hotel Construction Builds Economic Growth, Partnership

Evanston, Wyoming, a small town located along Interstate 80, serves as a stopping point for travelers, and energy development employees. The nature of its location and industry has not allowed for a lot of growth. Many residents must leave town to find steady employment.… [Read More]
Business
Danimer Scientific skilled workforce

Biotechnology Creating Jobs and Sustainable Solutions to Plastic Pollution

Petroleum-based plastics are the topic of increasing environmental concerns and legislative pressure for dumping of non-biodegradable plastics in landfills and the increasing costs of petroleum.  Out of concern for the environment, Danimer Scientific, a biotechnology… [Read More]
BiobasedBioeconomyBiopreferredBusiness
Peony Solar

One of the Largest Solar Farms in the State will benefit approximately 9,400 homes in South Carolina.

USDA Rural Development (RD) Business and Industry (B&I) Loan funds are used to assist farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses in developing renewable energy systems and in making energy-efficiency improvements to their operations.  In May, Peony Solar, located in… [Read More]
BusinessREAP
Photo: Outlaw Auto, a small, family-owned business in Myrtle Point, Oregon, is providing stable income for its owners and jobs for this rural community.

Small Family-owned Business Creates Jobs in Rural Community

For years, John and Alayna Black dreamed about opening their own business. John worked as a mechanic, repairing cars, motorcycles, and boats, but it was a struggle to make ends meet, especially after Alayna’s back surgery. “I didn’t know if we’d be able to pay the bills or have… [Read More]
BusinessSmall Business
Heartland Lumber Storefront

Building Materials + Ag Supplies = Heartland Lumber and Supply

Joe Quinn found out that after 100 years of operation, that all five of the S.A. Foster Lumberyards would either be sold or closed, including the Oshkosh, Nebraska lumberyard.  The Oshkosh location had been in operation for 65 years, and was where Joe had… [Read More]
Business

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