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Success Stories

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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: 92 Stories
Jan Riggins Photos

Living the American Dream of Homeownership in Aberdeen, SD

It was nearly ten years ago when Jan Riggins suffered a big financial loss with losing her business and her home. In that timeframe, she moved at least seven times from various rental properties because the owners either sold the homes or moved back to live in the… [Read More]
Photo of Corina Ponce and her son

USDA Helps Renovate Homeowner’s Safe Haven

Nearly three years ago, Corina Ponce had purchased a bank-owned home in Redfield, SD. She acquired the property knowing it had been vacant for a few years and needed major repairs. The time had come when she was ready to move forward with repairs to the home. One evening, she… [Read More]
Vale Fire Department photo

Accessible, Reliable Fire Equipment is a Necessity in This Rural South Dakota Community

The Vale Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency response services to the Vale, SD community and surrounding area that encompasses a 170-square mile area. Its mission is to prevent the loss of life and property. In addition to responding to calls for fire… [Read More]
inside homeowners home picture

More Than a Dream Come True for Aberdeen, South Dakota Homeowner

Tessa Dosch lives in Aberdeen, SD and had been living in a rental property for several years that was in poor condition.  It needed major repairs to the foundation, and it had old, drafty windows. Tessa had been longing to own a home of her own. One fall day, she had been… [Read More]
Wagner Day Care photo

USDA Meeting the Needs of a Rural Day Care Center

Wagner Early Childhood Center is a childcare facility that supervises and cares for a large number of children in the Wagner area. The daycare provides services that support parents and guardians by caring for children too young to be left alone, or to attend school or… [Read More]
Lake Andes group photo

USDA Builds Sound Infrastructure for a Rural South Dakota Community

The City of Lake Andes recognized that two-thirds of the city sewer system was built in the 1920’s with vitrified clay pipe (VC) and brick manholes (MHs). The sewer system was experiencing a significantly high rate of infiltration and inflow causing the sanitary sewer system to… [Read More]
Avera Health photo

Pioneering Innovative Ways of Service and Infrastructure Development for Rural Areas

With the passage of time, rural areas continue to have challenges.  Lack of infrastructure, distance to services, and a qualified workforce continue to plaque rural health care facilities. In the eastern corner of the state of South Dakota, a strong telehealth network is… [Read More]

Recreational UTV’s Provide Opportunity for Social Distancing Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Rory Maynard has owned and operated Edge UTV Rental (Legendary Investments, LLC) also known as Edge Sports located in Lead, SD for many years.  Edge Sports is a ski and snowboarding shop and the site location has immediate access to the Black Hills National Forest. … [Read More]
Randy Gruenwald standing in front of a display of meats.

Dakota Butcher - 2020 SBA Entrepreneur of the Year

Seeing a business close their doors in a small town is always difficult. When the Clark meat shop closed in 2008, Randy Gruenwald decided he wasn’t going to stand by and watch it happen. His professional experience was an excellent fit to revive the business. He worked 15 years… [Read More]
Dakota Energy and Huron Regional Medical Center photo

Equipment Beneficial for Both Diagnosis and Therapy of Patients

The Huron Regional Medical Center has invested in new fluoroscopy equipment. Fluoroscopy is an imaging technique that uses x-rays to obtain real-time moving images of the interior of an object. The equipment allows a physician to see the internal structure and function of a… [Read More]