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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: 96 Stories
Jim Pitreau stands at the base of Green Thumb Farms' new grain dryer.

High Efficiency Grain Dryer Proves Transformational for Green Thumb Farms

Soil Health, Bottom Line, and Maine Livestock All Benefit from REAP GrantGreen Thumb Farms is a familiar name to many Mainers. The farm’s “Cold River Gold” potatoes are found in abundance in New England supermarkets each fall and winter.  The family-owned farm in the… [Read More]
Maine
BusinessEnergyFood SupplyInflation Reduction ActKnow Your FarmerREAP
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
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
Man standing in front of grocery store.

Energy Grant Helps Local Grocery Serve Neighbors and Community

New energy efficient lighting illuminates the well-stocked produce section of Albert’s Fresh Market in Grafton, Ohio. USDA Photo.  Small businesses are the heartbeat of rural communities, helping them thrive by providing goods,… [Read More]
Ohio
BusinessEnergy
A man stands against a porch railing with a long wood shed behind him. The roof of the shed is covered with solar panels. There is fall foliage in the background.

Marsh River Co-op Finds "the Easiest Way to Reduce Overhead Costs"

The Waldo County town of Brooks is located about half an hour from Belfast on the Penobscot Bay. It is a rural community with a population of about 1000 people. The store is located right downtown in a property that was recently donated… [Read More]
Maine
BusinessClean EnergyCooperativesEnergyFood SupplyInflation Reduction ActLocal FoodsLocal ProduceREAPSmall BusinessSolar Energy
Trey with his daughter looking at coffee grounds

Veteran Finds Unexpected Inspiration, Leads to New Business

Inspiration can strike at the most unlikely times. For Trey Hendrickson, it struck when he was returning from deployment in Afghanistan. He had, what he recalls as ‘the best cup of coffee’ he’d ever had. It was a taste of home. U.S. Marine… [Read More]
South Dakota
BusinessEconomic DevelopmentRMAP
Beau Barkley, Director of Creative & Brand Partnerships, and Tyler Sasse, Founder & Owner of Western Welding Academy, stand in front of the elite welding school that recruits students from around the country.

USDA Rural Development - Fulfilling a National Demand, One Welder at a Time

A nationwide shortage of welders is plaguing the United States. In response to this reality, Tyler Sasse made the decision to develop an elite, competitive welding school in 2019. Western Welding Academy was founded in Gillette, Wyoming, a community historically associated with… [Read More]
Wyoming
Business
Hatchery Row Ribbon Cutting

Multi-Use Development Helps to Revitalize Battle Lake’s Downtown

The Hatchery Row project in Battle Lake, funded by a $99,000 Rural Business Development Grant, helped to bring much-needed services and housing to a prominent vacation town. The project has marked a significant milestone in revitalizing Battle Lake's downtown and has been… [Read More]
Minnesota
Business
A woman stands in a farmers' market booth with a Precipice Coffee banner behind her and coffee displayed on the table in front of her. The tent is green and encloses the scene.

Little Roaster Avoids a Big Stink with Clean Technology

Precipice Coffee is roasted in the company's small Ellsworth location using a zero-emissions Bellwether Coffee roaster, pictured here.  Early in the process of establishing their new coffee business, Maggie Iannuzzi and her husband… [Read More]
Maine
BusinessClean EnergyElectricEntrepreneurInflation Reduction ActREAPTechnology
A group of residents stands outside a senior center on a cement patio. Large picture windows are behind them.

Majestically Made!

The Majestic, a senior living facility, lives up to its name as a large farmhouse styled home surrounded by the Bitterroot Mountains. In the rural landscape of Corvallis, Montana, residents maintain a rural lifestyle while receiving the assistance and care they need. Brandon… [Read More]
Montana
Business

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