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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: 100 Stories
Guidry's Catfish building expansion.

Guidry’s Catfish Secures $7 Million Grant, Expands Business and Creates 100 Jobs, Ensuring a Bright Future for Rural Louisiana

Nestled in the vibrant heart of south-central Louisiana, Guidry's Catfish Inc., a family-owned and operated business, is infamously known to locals for having some of the best U.S. farm-raised catfish in the region. With a commitment to quality, community, and sustainability,… [Read More]
Louisiana
BusinessEconomic DevelopmentGrantsMade in Rural America
Krupa and Fullwood at the Heritage on Main Street host station

The Brother- (and Sister-) hood of the Traveling Loan, A Tale of Two Businesses

For Kris Krupa and Mandi Fullwood, a caffeine boost isn’t just a great way to start the day. It was so instrumental to the daily operations of their Heritage on Main Street restaurant that they brewed up a plan to start a coffee shop to keep both enterprises running strong.… [Read More]
Virginia
Business
Brian Mininger with the Bear Creek sign

The Brother- (and Sister-) hood of the Traveling Loan, Chapter Three: Bear Creek Outdoor Living

Waynesboro’s proximity to Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail makes it a perfect place for hiking, biking, paddling and fly fishing in the great outdoors. It’s also a terrific location for adventures in your own backyard with a little help from Brian… [Read More]
Virginia
Business
Stephanie Duffy, Jennifer Ledford, and George Reed in the Initial Inspiration work area to Stephanie Duffy and George Reed

The Brother- (and Sister-) hood of the Traveling Loan, The Next Chapter: Initial Inspiration

Jennifer Ledford has quite literally put her personal stamp on the business she operates in downtown Waynesboro. After starting small with a home embroidery machine, she now works in a variety of mediums to make customers’ ideas come to life.“It was hard to find cute clothes for… [Read More]
Virginia
Business
picture of presenter looking off frame towards a projector screen. behind the presenter is a banner that says startup nv.

How to Save the World (And Other Startups)

“This is my favorite part,” said StartUpNV Director of Marketing Rukshana Hussain. Outside, the sounds of traffic dominate the sweltering Vegas heat, but inside the Nuwu Art Community Center there’s a silence as rural and Tribal entrepreneurs hang on to Hussain’s every word… [Read More]
Nevada
BusinessTribal
Waynesboro downtown street view featuring business signs

The Brother- (and Sister-) hood of the Traveling Loan: The Opening Chapter

Small towns are known for being close-knit communities where neighbors help neighbors, but we don’t often hear about federal programs that offer seed money to grow multiple businesses and boost local economic development in the process.Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG) do… [Read More]
Virginia
Business
Jim Pitreau stands at the base of Green Thumb Farms' new grain dryer.

High Efficiency Grain Dryer Proves Transformational for Green Thumb Farms

Soil Health, Bottom Line, and Maine Livestock All Benefit from REAP GrantGreen Thumb Farms is a familiar name to many Mainers. The farm’s “Cold River Gold” potatoes are found in abundance in New England supermarkets each fall and winter.  The family-owned farm in the… [Read More]
Maine
BusinessEnergyFood SupplyKnow Your FarmerREAP
Four members of the Cold Mountain Snowmobile Club are shown seated on an orange snow dragger equipment outdoors under bright sun.

Grand Boost for Grand Isle Winter Economy

The Cold Mountain Snowmobile Club (CMSC) is based in Grand Isle, Maine. Located in the St. John Valley, the town is in the northernmost region of the state, where snowmobiles are an important feature of winter life. Businesses rely on local… [Read More]
Maine
BusinessEconomic DevelopmentGrants
Oksana holding a piece of freshly picked ginger in her greenhouse

From Strife to Shelf: How a First-Generation Russian Farmer is Turning her Battles into Business

Starting a farming business can be a rewarding venture. However, it requires careful planning, preparation, and access to various skills and resources. This task proved to be especially challenging and rewarding for first-generation business owner and Russian immigrant, Oksana… [Read More]
Delaware, Maryland, and District of Columbia (DC)
Business
Man standing in front of grocery store.

Energy Grant Helps Local Grocery Serve Neighbors and Community

New energy efficient lighting illuminates the well-stocked produce section of Albert’s Fresh Market in Grafton, Ohio. USDA Photo.  Small businesses are the heartbeat of rural communities, helping them thrive by providing goods,… [Read More]
Ohio
BusinessEnergy

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