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

Search Results: 883 Stories
After repairs.

Investment in Action: Helping a New Jersey Family Keep Their Home Safe

A family of three in Montague, New Jersey, had been facing growing challenges as a worsening roof leak threatened the safety and comfort of their home. Each rainfall brought renewed anxiety, water seeping through the ceiling, new damage appearing in their living space, and the… [Read More]
New Jersey
Home Repair
Esther McCoy with her dog in front of her home

South Dakota Governor’s House Program – Providing Affordable Housing for 30 Years

For many families in rural South Dakota, finding safe, affordable housing can be a significant challenge. Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Single Family Housing Program and the South Dakota Governor’s House program at the Mike Durfee State Prison in… [Read More]
South Dakota
HomeownershipHousingTribal
Batavia Police Department Ribbon Cutting

New Police Station Strengthens Safety and Community Partnerships

The City of Batavia reached a transformative milestone with the recent grand opening of their new state-of-the-art police station. This was a project made possible through $12.5 million in critical support from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Community… [Read More]
New York
Community FacilitiesFirst Responders
Homeowner on front porch of new home

Aurora’s Miracle Home Journey

Aurora, a 58‑year‑old first-time homebuyer in Oxford, New Jersey, spent five years working tirelessly toward her dream of owning a home. Balancing two jobs as a baker at different supermarkets, she pushed forward despite facing setback after setback. Over time, the challenges… [Read More]
New Jersey
Homeownership
Homeowner stands on front porch of new home

Homeownership Dream Come True

In April 2025, Kamryn Clark took an important step toward her future when she applied for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans, also known as the Section 502 Direct Loan Program, to purchase her first home in Carneys Point… [Read More]
New Jersey
Homeownership
Barbara Coldwell pictured beside a large oak tree in front of her home in Danielsville, Georgia, May 2026

A Dream Home for a Dream Home Buyer

Barbara Coldwell approached her goal of homeownership methodically and proactively. Her efforts resulted in a “home sweet home” where she now enjoys a vibrant yard, watching wind moving the leaves of the trees, and listening to birds from her porch and through the window of her… [Read More]
Georgia
Homeownership
Woman sitting on sofa with cup

A Rural Coffee Shop Owner Receives Technical Assistance and Training through USDA-Funded Program

At just 19 years old, Chloe Genske has already celebrated one year of owning the coffee shop where she used to be an employee during high school.When the owner of The Daily Drip in Shawano decided to sell the business, Chloe jumped at the chance to own her own business.  “I… [Read More]
Wisconsin
Rural Development
Four people standing in front of Mere Point Oyster Pre-Order pickup shack

Clean Water, Stronger Coasts: How Two Rural Development Investments Support a Healthier Casco Bay

The Town of Freeport sits along the Harraseeket River, a northern arm of Casco Bay. Just a few miles away in Brunswick, Mere Point Oyster Company grows shellfish in the clear, fast‑moving waters of Maquoit and Mere Point Bays, waters that are considered some of the most… [Read More]
Maine
Small BusinessWastewater
Jaci Gibson and her dog at home.

Blueprints for a Beginning: A New Home and Marriage

When Jaci Velder applied to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Mutual Self-Help (MSH) Housing Program through the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments (UAACOG), she was hoping for something simple: a safe and affordable place to call home… [Read More]
Colorado
Housing
Mark and Megan Bausch of Bausch Potato Inc. stand outside their farmhouse next to a sign indicating the farm.

Legacy Keeps Montana Family on the Farm

Megan Bausch stacks boxes of potatoes at their storage facility in Whitehall, Montana. USDA photo. South of Whitehall, Montana, against towering mountain peaks and under the wide skies, Mark Bausch and his daughter Megan start and end each… [Read More]
Montana
Value Added

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