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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: 872 Stories
two people toasting

USDA Rural Development grant helps Wisconsin agricultural entrepreneurs expand and grow

From a beekeeper in Southern Wisconsin who is reviving a refreshment rooted in medieval history to an apple cider entrepreneur in Bayfield, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development is investing in Wisconsin agriculture producers that aim to expand and grow. Funding… [Read More]
Wisconsin
Value Added
ProTek Fiber Closing Group Photo

USDA Invests in ProTek Fiber Project to Provide Direct Fiber-to-the-Home Service in Southern Illinois

Fiber-optic Infrastructure Project Saves Dozens of Jobs and Creates Even MoreU.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Illinois State Director Jesus Ortega recently announced that the agency is investing nearly $21 million to ProTek Fiber through Farmers State Bank of… [Read More]
Illinois
Economic Development
Boyceville homeowner David Jacott stands in front of his home.

Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants Program Helps Boyceville Homeowner Find Peace of Mind Heading into Winter in Rural Wisconsin

David Jacott stands on the newly paved driveway of his home in Boyceville. Boyceville resident David Jacott is heading into winter with greater peace of mind, knowing his home is better protected against ice and water damage. Through the… [Read More]
Wisconsin
Home Repair
A woman in a pink dress sits on her front porch.

A Home Saved, A Life Restored: The Impact of USDA Rural Development Funding

Maureen's wall was crumbling and propped up by boards prior to the repairs.  In the heart of rural Washington County, Pennsylvania, 72-year-old Maureen Bird faced a crisis that threatened her safety. Her modest home was built almost 100… [Read More]
Pennsylvania
Home RepairHomeownershipHousing
Top of Water Tower

USDA Rural Development provides funding to construct a new water tank in the Village of Burnt Prairie

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Rural Development (RD) provided a $1,243,000 grant and a $786,000 loan through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program to the Village of Burnt Prairie, IL, to construct a new 75,000-gallon elevated water storage tank. The… [Read More]
Illinois
Community Facilities
Medical staff monitor patients through video.

Rural doesn’t mean less

According to a Bureau of Health Workforce analysis published in November 2024, the average age of registered nurses across the United States was over 43 years old, while the population of Americans over age 65 is expected to increase from 58 to 82 million by 2050.These changes,… [Read More]
South Dakota
Health CareRural DevelopmentTechnology
Fire facility with emergency vehicle

USDA Rural Development loan and grant helps fund Couderay Volunteer Fire Department new fire building

The new fire facility in Couderay is a commercial post frame design.   Photo by Mary Slisz-Chucka Couderay VFDI will use new 50-by-56-foot pole shed for storage and fire suppression training and operationsThe U.S. Department of… [Read More]
Wisconsin
Rural Development
firefighter standing on fire truck at a farm in the evening

New Pumper Truck Enhances Firefighting Efforts and Community Safety

What began as a controlled burn in early May 2025 at Wolsey’s landfill turned dangerous when high winds stoked embers deep in the rubble, igniting a grassfire. The blaze quickly spread to within a quarter mile of the town, charring more than 250 acres in its path.The Wolsey Fire… [Read More]
South Dakota
Community FacilitiesFirst Responders
Colman payloader on Main Street with water tower in the background

Clearing the Way for a Safer Community

When storms hit rural communities, oftentimes fewer resources are available to assist them in cleanup efforts. This is the case for the east-central community of Colman with a population of 600 citizens. The city’s budget is tight, leading to stretched-thin resources.When Grant… [Read More]
South Dakota
Community Facilities

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