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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: 893 Stories
Cople District firefighters Donald and Ryan King wearing SCBA equipment.

Disaster Grant Gets Northern Neck Firefighters Breathing Easier

Danger may be part of the job description for firefighters, but one critical piece of protective gear can significantly lower health risks for those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect lives and property in rural Virginia. “We consider every environment to be… [Read More]
Virginia
Community FacilitiesDisasterFirst Responders
Allen Parish Healthcare

Building a Healthier Future in Allen Parish through Rural Development Community Facilities Programs

USDA Rural Development Louisiana's Community Facilities Programs are key to strategic investments in rural communities. One recent success is our partnership with Allen Parish Community Healthcare in Kinder, Louisiana. This rural hospital—serving not just Allen Parish but also… [Read More]
Louisiana
Community Facilities
Minnkota Buxton Taft Caledonia Line Rebuild

Minnkota Power Cooperative’s $60 Million Infrastructure Upgrade for a Stronger Future

Minnkota Power Cooperative stands out as an example of rural energy resilience following President Trump's declaration of a National Energy Emergency, emphasizing the need to protect the nation's electric system and accelerate investments in essential infrastructure. For 85… [Read More]
Minnesota, North Dakota
CORE
Walton County Power Plant

Oglethorpe Power’s Acquisition of Walton County Power Strengthens Reliability and Affordability in Rural Georgia

Oglethorpe Power’s recent acquisition of Walton County Power marks a significant step in its mission to provide reliable, affordable, and diversified energy to its member cooperatives who serve predominantly rural service territories across Georgia. The purchase of the 465-… [Read More]
Georgia
CORE
A police officer stands beside a police car with a police dog

K9 Unit Supports Northeast Iowa Community with Help from USDA Grant

Postville, Iowa, population 2,500, is a hard-working community in the northeast corner of the state supported by an international workforce. A sign at the edge of town reads “Hometown to the World.” People come here to work in local industries, including meatpacking and… [Read More]
Iowa
Community Facilities
St. Paul firefighter Wesley Lawson pulls out the larger diameter hose on Rescue 88

River Town Raises Bar for Emergency Response

If you think larger, more well-funded communities have cornered the market on public safety innovations, think again. The St. Paul Volunteer Fire Department has built a robust organization with the vision and resources to go well beyond the town’s 1.4 square mile land area.… [Read More]
Virginia
First Responders
A USDA loan specialist stands on the steps of a house with the new homeowner and her family

USDA Rural Development and Habitat for Humanity Partner to Promote Homeownership for Northeast Iowa Family

Chasity, the mother of two children in Independence, Iowa, knew her family needed a better place to live. She reached out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) to talk about a mortgage.Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity owned an old house in town… [Read More]
Iowa
Housing
Wagner police car on main street

Community outreach leads to enhanced safety, reliability for rural police department

Outreach events offer a unique opportunity for community leaders and Rural Development staff to come together, identify community needs, and match potential projects with Rural Development funding.During one such visit between the Wagner mayor, city finance officer, and the… [Read More]
South Dakota
First Responders

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