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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 the Downeast community, and Heather was glad to find a rental home to…
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Find Stories

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

Search Results: 42 Stories
Red Shirt Table Overlook

Investing in the Basics of High Quality Education

As Acting State Director of USDA Rural Development in South Dakota, I want to ensure small South Dakotan communities have just as much opportunity to have successful business ventures, to build their community infrastructure, and to improve the quality of life in their hometowns… [Read More]
South Dakota
Economic DevelopmentGrants

Logan County Economic Development Council Exemplifies Economic Development

Like a well established tree, the Logan County Economic Development Council (LCEDC) has established deep roots and has branched out throughout their service area. The Council was established by Logan County business leaders, for the purpose of providing professional economic… [Read More]
Oklahoma
Economic Development
Badlands/Bad River Region

South Dakota Badlands/Bad River Regional Plan Receives National Designation

The Stronger Economies Together (SET) Badlands/Bad River Region’s long range economic development plan has passed a High Quality Plan (HQP) review by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is only the 4th plan to receive the HQP designation nationally.  … [Read More]
South Dakota
Economic DevelopmentStronger Economies Together
Able, Inc

Thrift Store Helps Disabled

Able, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides services to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. To help with the cost of providing those services, the organization operates a thrift store in Dickinson. The store sells donated used goods while providing… [Read More]
North Dakota
Economic Development
Shrimp boats of coastal southern Louisiana

USDA Agencies Striking to Make a Difference

Rural Development, Farm Service Agency, and Natural Resources and Conservation, USDA agencies in Louisiana, travels across the state to let rural disadvantaged communities know about the StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity Initiative. This initiative is part of a… [Read More]
Louisiana
Economic Development

USDA RD Partners with HTC to Make Broadband Available

Many of us take access to modern electronic and technological services for granted. But for businesses in Rural America, the lack of high-speed internet connections can make a difference between success and layoffs. In 2009, Highland Telephone Cooperative (HTC) began pursuing… [Read More]
Tennessee
BroadbandCommunity ConnectEconomic DevelopmentTelecommunications

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]
North Dakota
BusinessEconomic DevelopmentRural Development
water treatment plant

Water Treatment Plant Provides Abundant Water Source and Sparks Community Development

The City of Thomasville purchased their entire water supply from a nearby town and did not have a back-up water source. City leaders were frequently forced to implement water usage restrictions on their citizens, even during winter months, and on two occasions the city… [Read More]
Alabama
Economic DevelopmentWater
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]
South Dakota
BusinessEconomic DevelopmentManufacturingRural Development
New equipment providing state-of-the-art medical services.

One Program, Several Improvements for City of Cozad

The city of Cozad (pop. 3,977), located in Dawson County, has a very active economic development program, with Cozad Development Corporation (CDC) always looking for ways to stretch local economic development funds to assist new businesses. Rural Development was able to assist… [Read More]
Nebraska
Economic Development

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