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Success Stories

Smith Island, Maryland

Investing in Wastewater Infrastructure is Key to Preserving Smith Island, Maryland

For the people living on Smith Island, the water matters. But it’s about more than the beautiful views of the Chesapeake Bay from the picturesque island ten miles from the mainland. The multi‐generational residents depend on the surrounding Chesapeake Bay for their livelihoods. For many, crabbing, oystering, and ecotourism are what puts dollars in their bank accounts, and food on their tables. In rural communities…
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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: 711 Stories
stocking shelves at food pantry

Northern Wisconsin Food Pantry Meets Community’s Needs with the Help of USDA

 In the past 10 years, the Rhinelander area in Wisconsin has lost 1,200 high paying jobs. Thus leaving only minimum wage employment opportunities; creating a class of "working poor" and qualifying more than half the school students for free or reduced lunch. To assist the… [Read More]
Community Facilities

Oglala Lakota College Administers Educational Opportunities With Support from USDA

Schools in South Dakota play a vital role in educating and preparing future generations for postsecondary education and careers.  An expansion of the educational outcomes for American Indian students across the state focuses on Tribal Colleges.  Providing necessary and quality… [Read More]
EducationTribal
Oglala Lakota College Success Story

Oglala Lakota College Partners with USDA Rural Development to Deliver Services

Oglala Lakota College (OLC) partnered with  USDA Rural Development in 2015 to enhance program accessibility in underserved rural areas and communities.  Through a coordinated effort, workshops were held in three reservation communities to provide information and technical… [Read More]
EducationTribal
In this photo, courtesy of Annin Flagmakers, employee Carol Wolfe sews an American flag at the company's Coshocton, Ohio facility.

Ohio company keeps Old Glory flying high

What begin in Alexander Annin’s sail-making shop in 1820s New York City is today known as America’s oldest and largest flag company. It’s still family-owned and fiercely committed to using only USA labor and materials.  While Annin Flagmakers’ headquarters can be found about 20… [Read More]
Business

Organic Food Hub for South Central Texas and beyond

As we are becoming more conscious of our environment and the food we eat, more people are turning to organic foods. Organic foods have become a widely sought commodity in the past few years. There is a growing cluster of organic farmers in South Texas. Unfortunately, it seems… [Read More]
Business
Red Cloud Indian School

Our Lady of Lourdes Provides Foundational Skills and Oh So Much More

It was a special day for the students at the Our Lady of Lourdes, OLL, K- 8th grade school in Porcupine, SD as it was their last day before Thanksgiving break and many of their parents had joined them for lunch.  It was fun to see the students excited about the holidays and the… [Read More]
EducationTribal
Maung Family

Overcoming Barriers Provides Maung Family with a New Home

Although Nyo Maung and his family have limited knowledge of the English language, they did not let that barrier prevent them from pursing the American dream of homeownership.  The Maung’s worked with a language interpreter to file paperwork and  finalize the process of becoming… [Read More]
Homeownership
Palisade Fire Station

Palisade Fire Barn Renovation

The preexisting fire barn in Palisade, Nebraska, was too small to accommodate the needs of its Rural Fire District. The fire ambulance, fire trucks, grass rigs, and other equipment were all parked inside a one-door building. There was barely enough room to walk between the… [Read More]
Community Facilities
Park View Villa

Parkview Villa Apartments Helps to Fulfill a Basic Human Need

Nationwide, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development has partnered with the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to increase food security, and reduce hunger by providing eligible low-income families access to healthy foods and nutrition education through its nutrition… [Read More]
HousingMulti-Family

Partnering for Resilience: Helping Rural Families Keeps Homes and Water in California

California is parched. Amidst the controversy over irrigation in the farms of the Central Valley, the regulations on lawn sprinklers in sprawling cities, and the headlines about groundwater laws, there are regular people with no water. Imagine that day, only a few months after… [Read More]
Water

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