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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: 900 Stories
the shopping

Building Economic Self-Sufficiency on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation: A Legacy of Opportunity

LAME DEER, Mont. – Since opening in 2012, the Northern Cheyenne Commerce Building was established as a first-of-its-kind business incubator on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, marking a significant milestone for economic development and community empowerment. Funded through a… [Read More]
Montana
Tribal
Checking

Enhancing Dental Care Access through Telehealth on the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Reservations

In remote areas of Montana, accessing dental care has historically posed significant challenges for residents of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Indian Reservations. Recognizing this pressing need, USDA Rural Development partnered with the University of Washington School of… [Read More]
Montana
Education
The Bus

USDA Rural Development Helps Pryor Public Schools Expand Distance Learning

Pryor Public Schools, located within the Crow Nation in southeastern Montana, is expanding access to education through a 2021 USDA Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant. The grant is providing essential support to the district’s efforts to connect… [Read More]
Montana
Education
Linn Valley Mayor Lewis Donelson and the Town Council prepare to break ground on the construction of their new water tower.

The Universal Product

Clean drinking water is the universal product of all communities. Everyone uses this product every day. You cannot have a healthy, vibrant community without it.Linn Valley, Kansas, had a problem. Their rural community was growing and their patchwork efforts to supply drinking… [Read More]
Kansas
Utilities
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
Picture of USDA Rural Development team presenting award poster to YMCA Leadership.

New YMCA Opens in Ottawa, IL: A Boost for Community Health and Wellness

The city of Ottawa warmly welcomed its new YMCA facility in May 2024; a testament to community investment and local collaboration aimed at promoting health, wellness, and social engagement. This state-of-the-art facility represents a $27.5 million investment in the community,… [Read More]
Illinois
Community FacilitiesInfrastructure
Aerial view of Bluff Dwellings rooftops with red cliffs in background.

Bringing Renewable Energy to Southeast Utah Using the Desert's Greatest Resource

The remote desert of Southeastern Utah brings a landscape like no other. While towering red rock mesas and sandstone cliffs provide amazing views you see very few people, and an abundance of sunshine. Southeast Utah’s San Juan County is the largest county in Utah, covering over… [Read More]
Utah
REAP
Map of Roy Blunt Reservoir

Local, State, Federal agencies join forces to provide safe drinking water

In northern rural Missouri, 10 counties have faced a continued challenge: safe, affordable drinking water. But that’s about to change.Thanks in part to Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Program (WEP), these 10 counties will no longer wonder if their water will continue… [Read More]
Missouri
Water
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
Residents of Woody Hollow Cooperative in Boscawen, NH

Woody Hollow Cooperative Goes Over and Under the Challenges of Aging Infrastructure

Woody Hollow Cooperative in Boscawen, New Hampshire is a 30-lot, resident-owned community that had to face the reality of aging water infrastructure. With a system dating back to the 70s, residents suffered the effects of poor surface drainage, constant leaks and ruptures, and… [Read More]
Vermont and New Hampshire
Housing

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