Success Stories

I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to this department, especially to Trudy Teter and her housing team. I would not have received a loan from USDA if it weren’t for them. I sincerely hope USDA continues this loan program and extends it, as I know there are thousands of… [Read More]

In February 2022, Jessi and her 11-year-old daughter were struggling to maintain their 2006 doublewide manufactured home on an income of less than $20,000 a year.  The home, plagued by years of deferred maintenance and a leaking roof, had severe ceiling damage and… [Read More]

Water is the life source for everything living on this earth. For human survival, we require clean and reliable water through sustainable infrastructure. While most people in US communities are blessed with water resources that don't even need to be thought about when the… [Read More]

Rural seniors often desire to age in their communities, surrounded by familiar faces and places. However, with fewer healthcare providers, professional caregivers, and young people compared to urban areas, rural communities face challenges in caring for their aging residents.… [Read More]

For many, apples are a sweet addition to a balanced diet. For Eric Jorgensen, one of the founders of Finnriver Farm & Cidery, apples are a way of life. Jorgensen and his partners started their small organic fruit and vegetable farm in Chimacum, Washington, on the state’s… [Read More]

Small businesses are the center of rural communities and ensuring they have the tools needed to be successful is important for their sustainability. Fable Farms, a wine company in Washington, felt the strain during COVID-19 in 2020. Finding supplies for the business and getting… [Read More]

Joni Evans of Forks, WA lost her home to a fire in June 2014.  She narrowly escaped with her life thanks to her dog, Gunnar Grip.  Gunnar woke Joni up by barking and knocking her out of her chair, with only moments to spare before the house was fully engulfed.… [Read More]

As a low-income senior citizen who lost her partner and lives solely on Social Security, Ellen is at the center of a multi-generational home where resources are pooled. Ellen called the Kitsap Public Health District in the summer of 2019 to report her failing septic system.… [Read More]

One of the benefits of owning your own small business is the ability to be nimble and make quick financial and operational decisions when the need arises. Shawn and Mariah Butenschoen are proof of this. The Butenschoens own a five-acre organic blueberry farm in Elverson, a… [Read More]

The Farmers Market in Washington State’s Capital City of Olympia attracts some 500,000 visitors during its nine-month run and generates about $5 million in sales. As the City of Olympia’s liaison to the Farmers Market, the Parks, Arts and Recreation Department was approached by… [Read More]