Success Stories

Former high school athlete Tyrone (Ty) Patillo of Aliquippa, PA, has community service in his blood. His father was the first minority firefighter in the community. Ty continues the family tradition of giving back. His dedication to helping his hometown led him to look for… [Read More]

Richard Perkoski (left), owner of Main Street Milk LLC, Bob Morgan (middle), state director of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in Pennsylvania, and USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small (right… [Read More]

On Aug. 22, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced it had awarded an $85,000 grant to the United Way of the Capital Region through its Rural Business Development Grants Program.The grant will be used to help… [Read More]

It takes a lot of resources to execute events at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and Carlisle Expo Center.  There’s manpower, wind power, horsepower, and all new for 2025, solar power.  Carlisle Events, in partnership with the USDA and Solar Renewable Energy of… [Read More]

On Thursday, August 1, 2024; the Young Women’s Christian Association or YWCA opened the doors of their new facility in Bradford, Pennsylvania. The clinic hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for a brand-new facility more than 13,950 square feet. In total, the project cost $5.75… [Read More]

By Stephanie Speicher, Lancaster Farming LEBANON, Pa. — Steven and Bonnie Wenger have been talking about adding solar energy to Wen-Crest Farms for 15 years.A federal grant has finally made it possible.The Wengers are installing a 243-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system that… [Read More]

Greg Boulos started Blackberry Meadows Farm in Natrona Heights, about 25 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, with an idea to bring organic local healthy food options back to the local community. A duo of farmers began changing the regional… [Read More]

Lukan’s Farm Resort will generate enough energy to power 15 homes through the Rural Energy for America Program, which helps small businesses and farms invest in renewable energy. Lukan’s Farm is expected to save around $23,600 per year by switching to solar. Luan’s is family-… [Read More]

In 2021, USDA Rural Development in Pennsylvania partnered with Schwenksville Borough to turn their former firehouse into a borough hall and community center. The Borough utilized the USDA RD Community Facilities program with a low-interest loan to renovate the property to meet… [Read More]

Residents of Multi-Family Housing Complex Thankful For AidFor Carole Fosbaugh, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Multi-Family Housing program has allowed her to age in place in rural Pennsylvania.“I would not have been able to afford to live here and couldn’t have… [Read More]