Success Stories

For the rural residents of Fentress County, access to training programs that provide the advanced skills needed to compete for available jobs can be challenging. Traveling outside the area for training is expensive and often conflicts with current employment. Welding is one… [Read More]

"It is truly a blessing to come home each day to our peaceful environment," said Amanda Gilliard. The goal of graduating from college and purchasing a home for her family has been realized. For the last seven years, Amanda has maintained full-time employment, complete a four-… [Read More]

Barbara Cagle is an avid gardener and knows how important the early spring rains are to her flowers. This year however, the April showers threatened the safety of her home. Barbara, who lives in Tracy City, Tenn which is a persistent poverty county, knew when her roof started to… [Read More]

The last piece of this business expansion puzzle must be USDA Rural Development. Excel Boats, LLC determined in Fall 2017 they wanted to expand their business.  At the time, the company was building aluminum boats at their only manufacturing plant in Mountain View, Ark.… [Read More]

As a large producer of grapes and a connoisseur of wine, Bill Sanderson had a dream to own a Winery that offered a Tasting Facility and Event Hall. Construction costs and future operating expenses were a major obstacle for business owners, Bill and Marjie Sanderson. Discussing… [Read More]

  North Central Telephone Cooperative (NCTC) recently completed construction of more than 1,000 miles of Fiber To The Home (FTTH) facilities making broadband service available to approximately 14,000 households, 951 businesses, and 48 strategic institutions. … [Read More]

Even though Claybrook Farms had a long standing reputation for its excellent Black Angus cattle breeding operation, the new owner wanted to broaden the farm’s horizon. The Turner family purchased the 700 acre Claybrook Farms in 1975 growing it to over 1,000 acres and adding the… [Read More]

Earlier this year, Nancy Griffin of Dyer County decided she no longer wanted to rent an apartment that was too small for her family. With the idea of wanting a bigger home, she set out to explore what financing options were available. Griffin’s realtor Thelma Stutts of First… [Read More]

Town of Ashland City Mayor Richard Johnson was concerned about the sagging agricultural economy and lack of facilities for their Farmers Market.  Reaching out last year to state and federal partners the Town of Ashland City received a USDA Rural Development Rural Business… [Read More]

Delois Dotson of Hardeman County was in need of home repairs that she could not afford. Last year, Dotson heard about USDA Rural Development’s Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants program through WBOL Radio Station Representative Johnny Shaw. Shaw invited Dotson and… [Read More]