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Finding New Markets with USDA BioPreferred: Small Town Biobased Company has Outsized Impact on the Slopes and Ziplines of America
Scott and Kathie Lee are the founders of Gorilla Lube, based in Brownville, Maine.Scott Lee found his mission while still in college. At the time he worked for the Connecticut Department of Health inspecting public water supplies and tracing the source of pollutants… [Read More]
West KY nonprofit looks to level tech jobs, entrepreneurship playing field
Spend time with anyone involved in economic development in rural Kentucky, and you’ll hear different ideas about what will bring meaningful prosperity to the region. Some hang their hat on recreation activities like motorsports and responsible use of natural resources (… [Read More]
Working Together for Change on Spruce Head Island: Maine Oyster Company Goes Green with REAP Grant
Entrepreneurs must weigh every potential expense carefully. This is certainly true for Krista Tripp, owner of a lobster business and commercial oyster farm on Sprucehead Island, ME. Her company, Aphrodite Oysters, markets its fresh seafood directly to consumers and through area… [Read More]
Love Continues to Grow at Lovefood Farm
In 2015, Lovefood Farm launched their farm off one rented acre with a small Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), Saturday farmers market and a neighborhood farmstand. Lovefood spent a few years at the Farley Center Farm Incubator, which allowed them to eventually purchase 30… [Read More]
With RAIN Catalysts, Oregon Entrepreneurs Shine
Though their businesses may be small, rural entrepreneurs play a big role in the nation’s economic development and prosperity. They create local jobs, revitalize Main Streets, and enrich their communities. With every open sign and website launch, these intrepid innovators bring… [Read More]
Commercial Kitchen Fires Texas Barbecue up to Next Level
When Ruben Lopez and his wife Katherine moved from Texas to Price, Utah a few years ago, they didn’t have plans to open a restaurant. The idea began with a question Ruben posted on Facebook. “How would y'all like some Texas barbecue out here?” His query received hundreds of… [Read More]
Entrepreneurs and RD: a Match Meant to Bee
Mark and Linda Graf have a crew of over 400,000 bees in over 100 hives working for them near Emerson, Nebraska. The Buzz, their store on Main Street, sells local honey and related products.
The Grafs are shining examples of entrepreneurship in rural America. Linda describes… [Read More]
Developing Entrepreneurship in Lovington, N.M.
When the first class of the ‘Local Innovators Institute’ gathered in March of 2020 there was nothing but excitement.
Why? Because everyone came to find out if their dreams of opening a restaurant would come true.
The ‘Local Innovators Institute’ is a business development class… [Read More]
East Kentucky entrepreneur uses solar power to significantly cut power costs
Geoff Marietta found out just how expensive it can be to heat a 12,000-square-foot, 100-plus-year-old building.
The building, located on the corner of 2nd and Main streets in downtown Corbin, Kentucky, sat vacant from 2005 until Marietta bought it in 2017. He immediately… [Read More]
Bringing Family to Orangeburg: RD Helps Family Business Expand
Family is important to Johnny Murdaugh. When raising his own in Orangeburg, South Carolina, he had to travel outside of his community to enjoy fun activities with his children. Frustrated with the lack of access to entertainment centers and amusement parks, he decided to do… [Read More]