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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: 767 Stories
Sturgis' Public Works Department Photo

Cost Savings Gained Through Consolidation of Facilities into Singular Campus

The City of Sturgis’ Public Works Department conducted a study on their department with regards to management and facilities.  The report revealed many inefficiencies including over crowded conditions, duplication of equipment and administration. It was determined that cost… [Read More]
Community Facilities
Kili Radio Photo

Solar Array to Assist with Rural South Dakota Radio Station’s Electricity Needs

Lakota Communications, Inc.’s KILI Radio facility will construct a 20kW solar array that produces fifty percent of the facility’s electrical needs.  The radio station transmits across the 3,470 square-mile Pine Ridge Indian Reservation from a remote bluff in the tiny… [Read More]
Community Facilities
Photo: The volunteers that make up the Wheeler County Search and Rescue team now have the necessary equipment to safely conduct rescues and treat patients.

Help is On the Way: Equipping a Rural Search and Rescue Team

Wheeler County Search and Rescue, as with many rural emergency departments, has a limited budget and could not afford essential equipment. This entirely volunteer team borrowed supplies from the Sheriff’s Office, but most volunteers provided their equipment, and the medics even… [Read More]
Community Facilities
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
Rooftop Solar Unit Located on Top of the Bluffs Business Center Building.

Sarchet Ventures REAPing the Benefits of Rooftop Solar

The Bluffs Business Center in Scottsbluff, Neb. is a historical trademark in the downtown area located on Broadway. Sarchet Ventures owns and operates the Center. Mike Sarchet, managing partner of Sarchet Ventures, has a history of more than 30 years as an environmental educator… [Read More]
Solar Energy
Lone Tree Foods logo.

Marketing and Modernization Project Increases Local Food Options

Lone Tree Foods, with the main office in Crete, Neb., is a farmer-owned business named for the Lone Tree Ferry that was instrumental in connecting Nebraska to the eastern territories.  Their mission is to connect local farmers with wholesale buyers in Eastern Nebraska and… [Read More]
Value Added
Welcome to Plainview sign.

City of Plainview Obtains Financial Tool To Recruit New Businesses

The city of Plainview is facing the challenge that many rural communities face; how does a rural community keep existing businesses in operation and recruit new businesses to keep the community viable. One of the issues Plainview plans to address is the challenge of apparent… [Read More]
Small Business
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]
Economic Development
El Molcajete after improvements.

El Cambio es Bueno! (Change is Good!)

In March of 2017, the city of Scottsbluff announced a grant opportunity for businesses (many of which are Hispanic owned) to improve the exterior of buildings along the East Overland Corridor.  Ramon and Elena Pedroza decided this might be an opportunity for their… [Read More]
Energy
Glass of wine.

Sharing Their Love for Wine, All Across Nebraska

    McFarland Family Farms, LLC dba Mac’s Creek Vineyards & Winery, located in Lexington, Nebraska, is a small locally owned vineyard and winery. They grow more than 10 varieties of grapes that are productive for the Nebraska climate, and are able to produce 16… [Read More]
Value Added

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