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Success Stories

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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: 17 Stories
Image of people in a boat

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]
A smiling family, father, mother, two young daughters, standing on the porch of their own home.

Couple Turns Wishes of Homeownership into Reality with USDA and Four Directions

“When we walked in, I felt like an imposter - Like I just stole somebody’s house,” said Michael Carlos, a Houlton, Maine native and fiancé of Sakoya Blackwell, a member of the Maliseet Indian Tribe in Houlton. “I couldn’t believe it was really ours.” For years, their family… [Read More]
The Hodgdon Family stand on their front porch

Homeownership Keeps Family Close to Their Coastal Heritage

Thanks to the USDA Rural Development Single-Family Direct Housing Program, the Hodgdon family has an affordable home they love in Boothbay Harbor, a community their family has lived in for generations. Jacob Hodgdon, his fiancé Shelby, and their two children Graycin, age five,… [Read More]
The LaRue Family sits on the steps of their new home

Oh Baby! Homeownership Dreams Do Come True

Little eleven-month-old Katie LaRue will never remember the struggles of her family to find the perfect home in rural Maine. She will grow up with her own room and a large yard to play in. For her Mom, Monique, Dad, Jesse, and her four siblings, they will always appreciate how… [Read More]

Homeownership is “Life Changing” for Cherryfield Woman

There is nothing quite like the glow of a proud new homeowner. For Kate McGowan, her new home in Cherryfield is everything she ever dreamed of. Kate, whose life’s journey has taken her from far Northern Maine where she was born, thousands of miles away to California, and back… [Read More]
heiwa tofu family photo

Solar Powered Tofu: Renewable Energy Powers Maine Business

From humble beginnings making tofu from their garage in Camden, to producing and distributing organic and locally-sourced tofu products throughout New England from their building in Rockport, the owners of Heiwa Tofu have always been focused on a “bright” future for their small… [Read More]

Energy Efficiency Improvements for Northport Grocery Store

High energy usage is a widely recognized concern when operating a grocery store; lighting, compressors, heating, cooling all have a negative impact on the bottom line. John and Rhonda Wentworth, the owner’s of Wentworth Family Grocery in Northport, were determined to increase… [Read More]