U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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…
Read More

Find Stories

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

Search Results: 48 Stories
RBCS Administrator Betsy Dirksen Londrigan gives a speech at the new REAP project at the Carlisle Expo Center in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

New Solar Projects Shine at Carlisle Expo Center

It takes a lot of resources to execute events at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and Carlisle Expo Center.  There’s manpower, wind power, horsepower, and all new for 2025, solar power.  Carlisle Events, in partnership with the USDA and Solar Renewable Energy of… [Read More]
Pennsylvania
Solar Energy
Photo of Walt and Deidre Iciek of Taraanthon Cattle

Michigan Dairy Cuts Electricity Costs by up to 90 Percent with REAP Grant

Dairy cows and sustainability have always been a part of Deidre Iciek’s life. As the oldest daughter of two veterinarians, she grew up around animals, large and small, from the time she was born. After high school, she majored in environmental studies at Michigan State… [Read More]
Michigan
REAPSolar Energy
Photo of Sportel Greenhouses' co-owner, Kevin Sportel

Rural Energy for America Program Grant Powers Flower Growth at Michigan Greenhouse

When Ron Sportel’s grandfather started his celery farm in Comstock, Michigan, in 1918, he probably didn’t expect the family farm would sell flowers to big box stores across five states 100 years later. Sportel’s father and uncle continued growing celery on the family farm until… [Read More]
Michigan
REAPSolar Energy
Photo of Jim Kober, Owner of Alpine Pork

Solar Panels Help Save Money and Create More Energy to Secure Future for Michigan Farm

Kent County, Michigan, is the kind of place where everyone seems to know everyone. It is also the place where Jim Kober grew up helping on the family pig farm. His grandparents established the family farm originally as an apple orchard in the early 1900s. “I grew up there and I… [Read More]
Michigan
REAPSolar Energy
Photo of Arrow Farms Owners

Sunshine Powers Michigan Hog Farm

Sustainability may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about hog farms, but for Arrow Farms in Scotts, Michigan, it is a part of their business model. Jarred Lorenz, Arrow Farms owner and H&H Farms general manager of hog operations, views hog production… [Read More]
Michigan
REAPSolar Energy
The Pelican Athletic Club General Manager Alix St. Pé, USDA Rural Business Cooperative Services Administrator Betsy Londrigan, Associate Deputy Administrator Dr. James Jordan, Rural Development Chief of Staff Leroy Garcia, Special Advisor Robert Lyons alongside Rural Development Louisiana Business Programs Director Whey McGrew, Community Programs Director Matt Seaton, along with 50 USDA staff from across the country. The Next Solar Energy Technology Inc.'s Vice President of Sales, Eric LeBlanc, General Man

Pelican Athletic Club Enhances Energy Efficiency with USDA Rural Development Grants

Pelican Athletic Club Enhances Energy Efficiency with USDA Rural Development Grants The Pelican Athletic Club greeted and welcomed USDA Rural Development staff to their premier fitness and wellness center in Mandeville, Louisiana, to show off their new energy efficiency… [Read More]
Louisiana
EnergyGrantsREAPRenewable EnergySolar Energy
A group photo at Wen Crest Farms in Lebanon, Pa.

Grant Money Energizes Family's Solar Dream

By Stephanie Speicher, Lancaster Farming LEBANON, Pa. — Steven and Bonnie Wenger have been talking about adding solar energy to Wen-Crest Farms for 15 years.A federal grant has finally made it possible.The Wengers are installing a 243-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system that… [Read More]
Pennsylvania
EnergyRenewable EnergySolar Energy
Greg Boulos and Jennfier Montgomery started Blackberry Meadows Farm in Natrona Heights, about 25 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, opened their farm with an idea to bring organic local healthy food options back to their local community.

Community Farm brings things back to local with USDA funding

Greg Boulos started Blackberry Meadows Farm in Natrona Heights, about 25 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, with an idea to bring organic local healthy food options back to the local community. A duo of farmers began changing the regional… [Read More]
Pennsylvania
EnergyRenewable EnergySolar EnergyValue Added
Two farmers pose with sheep inside a barn with hay on the floor and an open door in the background.

Maine Farm Uses REAP to Help Diversify Farm and Serve a Heritage Industry

Elizabeth Goundie and Josh Emerman are the co-founders of Moorit Hill Farm and Fiber in Troy, Maine. They came to Central Maine by a circuitous route, purchasing the property in 2017. Just seven years later, the young farmers are not only tending more than 70 sheep but also… [Read More]
Maine
Food SupplyKnow Your FarmerLocal FoodsREAPSmall BusinessSolar Energy
Honeyville Metal has recently announced the installation of a state-of-the-art solar array at their Topeka, Indiana location. This sustainable energy initiative is a significant step towards reducing the company's carbon footprint while also saving on energy costs. The new solar array highlights Honeyville Metal's commitment to environmental stewardship and their forward-thinking approach to business operations.

Harnessing the Power of the Sun: Honeyville Metal's Path to Energy Independence

Honeyville Metal, LLC in Topeka, Indiana is a family-owned business that designs and fabricates innovative dust collection and grain handling equipment that supports a variety of industries across North America. The company has taken significant steps towards sustainability… [Read More]
Indiana
InfrastructureREAPRenewable EnergyRural DevelopmentSolar Energy

Additional Success Stories