U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Success Stories

Find Stories

Use the filters below to find additional stories about how our programs have helped rural communities across the nation.

Search Results: 48 Stories

Bringing Micro-Manufacturing Back to Main Street

When Carol Lynn Lapotka purchased an historic building on Polson, Mont.'s Main Street to house REcreate Designs, LLC., her small-batch manufacturing plant and artist co-op, she knew renovations would be needed.  So, this environmentally-focused entrepreneur applied for USDA… [Read More]
Montana

Craft Malt Company Germinating Growth in Butte

Montana Craft Malt Company (MCM), which sprouted as an idea from a 2016 white paper published by the State Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce, is now America's first commercial-scale specialty malting plant.  With the help of a USDA Rural… [Read More]
Montana

Super Scoopers in the Skies

Montana's wildfire season came a little early this year, as a result of drier-than-normal and windy conditions. But, Bridger Aerospace (BA), a company based in Belgrade, Montana, was ready to answer the call with their two new CL-415EAF "Super Scooper" fire suppression… [Read More]
Montana

A Single Mom's Road to Homeownership

As a single mother raising two little boys in Kalispell Mont., Amanda D. wanted to purchase a home for her family. But, with a modest income and skyrocketing housing costs, this dream seemed to be out of reach."Trying to buy a home with any traditional mortgage, it would just… [Read More]
Montana

The Home that Friends Built

As a single mother of two, Amber W. works as a youth counselor, a YMCA fitness instructor, and a dance instructor for children and adults with disabilities in Helena, Mont.  Amber had long dreamed of becoming a homeowner and, in 2021, her vision came to fruition through a… [Read More]
Montana

Practicing Sustainability on the Eastern Edge of Glacier National Park

In 2017, after years of planning, Sanford and Claire Stone realized their dream and broke ground on Park Cabin Company in Babb, Mont., an unincorporated farming and ranching community in Glacier County. Their modern cabins are located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and… [Read More]
Montana

Solar Savings for Gardiner Grocery Store

Millions of visitors each year tour Yellowstone National Park. The North entrance to the park is the only entrance that is open year-round and is home to the small town of Gardiner, Montana. The local grocery store, Gardiner Market, offers traditional items, plus gluten-free,… [Read More]
Montana

USDA Assists in Keeping the Value-Added in Flathead Dairy Business

Just about everybody in the Flathead Valley knows about Kalispell Kreamery. The creamery, located only 20 feet from the milking barn of their dairy, bottles milk with as little processing, delay and manipulation as possible. The dairy business is well known for producing local,… [Read More]
Montana