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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: 878 Stories
On Thursday, August 1, 2024; the Young Women’s Christian Association or YWCA opened the doors of their new facility in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

New YWCA Opens in McKean County

On Thursday, August 1, 2024; the Young Women’s Christian Association or YWCA opened the doors of their new facility in Bradford, Pennsylvania. The clinic hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for a brand-new facility more than 13,950 square feet. In total, the project cost $5.75… [Read More]
Pennsylvania
Community Facilities
Brick buildings with many windows line a street in Montana. A clock tower is seen in the background.

Co-Op to Bring Local Food to Butte

After the closure of two grocery stores in Butte, Montana, community leaders grew increasingly concerned about the limited availability of fresh and local food. In 2021, a group of these leaders initiated the Butte Food Co-Op, with the goal of better connecting the community to… [Read More]
Montana
CooperativesLocal FoodsSmall Business
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

Hardeman County Community Health Center Ribbon Cutting

On Friday, August 2, 2024; Hardeman County Community Health Center opened the doors of their new Women and Children’s Clinic in Bolivar, Tennessee. The clinic hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for a brand-new facility more than 5,000 square feet. Hardeman County Community Health… [Read More]
Tennessee
Health Care
Wolfe County KY Search & Rescue Team

USDA Rural Development helps search & rescue team save lives

USDA Rural Development program dollars do more than just increase prosperity – they save lives.Each year, Wolfe County, Kentucky, sees tens of thousands of rock climbers, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts who visit Red River Gorge and surrounding recreational areas. Anyone… [Read More]
Kentucky
Community FacilitiesFirst Responders
Brian Watson at East Central College showing the HVAC system

Paving the Way for a Cooler Future

How RBDG Transformed ECC's HVAC Program  By Sierra Rusco Brian Watson, HVAC Program Coordinator at East Central College in Union, Missouri, is passionate about teaching. With his career in the HVAC industry, Brian finds it essential to give his students the best education… [Read More]
Missouri
BusinessRural DevelopmentSmall Business
The interior of Montana's Bighorn Bottle Shop and Wine Bar.

Where There's Wine, There's a Way

When walking down main street in Anaconda, Montana, it’s easy to find The Bighorn Bottle Shop and Wine Bar. What used to be a run-down building is now an influential part of the community. The brick-and-mortar storefront offers wine and beer selections from across the world. “… [Read More]
Montana
Small Business
Pamela Popso used a RD Guaranteed home loan to secure her first house

Turning Dreams into Brick and Mortar

Amidst the winding roads and one stoplight towns of South Jersey, one mother’s story can be told through determination and dreams fulfilled. Born and raised in this rural corner of the Garden State, her path to achieving this lifelong dream required challenges, resilience, and a… [Read More]
New Jersey
Homeownership
John Hocreither, the resort’s president, hopes the grant will grow the business. The farm passed through three generations, starting with Hocreither's grandparents. Hocreither now runs Lukan’s alongside his brother, and he said the two juggle lots of jobs.

Solar Project in Wayne County Helps Eliminate Electric Bills

Lukan’s Farm Resort will generate enough energy to power 15 homes through the Rural Energy for America Program, which helps small businesses and farms invest in renewable energy. Lukan’s Farm is expected to save around $23,600 per year by switching to solar. Luan’s is family-… [Read More]
Pennsylvania
EnergyREAPRenewable Energy

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