U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Success Stories

“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…

Find Stories

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

Search Results: 23 Stories
Smiling people hold a ribbon inside the Maine Arts Academy during the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Bringing Free Arts Education to More Maine High School Students

Established in 2016, Maine Arts Academy (MeAA) initially operated out of rented space at the Snow Pond Arts Center in Sidney, Maine. Originally conceived of by John Wiggin of the New England Music Camp, in its early years the new public charter school and the music camp were co-… [Read More]
Maine
Ohio state director presents certificate to Jefferson Local School District Superintendent.

Connectivity Key to Well-Being and Prosperity in Rural Community

On a tranquil spring evening in Ohio’s northeastern Ashtabula County, community members filed into the Jefferson High School library for its monthly board of education meeting. The evening was a celebration as the board recognized “Students of the Month,” athletes who… [Read More]
Ohio
A hallway at a rural elementary school shows snowpants and boots across from a wall of blue lockers.

Distance Learning Grant Provides Window to the World for Rural Students

Halfway between Park Falls and Ashland is the rural community of Mellen, population 698. Nestled between the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and nearby Copper Falls State Park, this small community is humming with activity on an early Monday morning in March. Students are… [Read More]
Wisconsin
Logo for Appletree Rensselaer, Indiana

Appletree Rensselaer: Bringing Smiles to Little Faces in Indiana

USDA Rural Development awarded a Community Facilities Grant worth $133,200 to a childcare center in Rensselaer, Indiana. This grant will fund Appletree Rensselaer, a licensed childcare center providing services to 72 children between six weeks and five years old. The center will… [Read More]
Indiana
Danny Dehaze, Executive Director of Infrastructure, leading a session on instructional technology at the Fall 2023 Faculty In-Service, discussing the Zoom room hubs, new classroom technology, student information systems, and other service items

Columbia Gorge Community College Goes the Distance with Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant

When Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) decided to expand its distance learning opportunities in December of 2019, the project was considered ambitious. By March 2020, the project was essential.  The goal was simple at first. With the aid of a USDA Rural Development… [Read More]
Oregon
A group of adults sit in a community meeting room, listening to a speaker. Several members of the audience have their hands raised to ask a question.

USDA Rural Development Helps Rural School District Provide More than Education to Communities

In the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley lies a remote area sparsely dotted with unincorporated towns. Each town is small, where most of the residents are Latino farmworkers and low-income, and where community resources are limited. In lieu of a local government, the… [Read More]
California
A group of people are standing in a line with shovels at a groundbreaking event.

Lakes Country Public Library Starts a New Chapter with Expansion Project

The forecast called for rain and a high of 56 degrees the day construction workers broke ground at the Lakes Country Public Library expansion site in Lakewood, Wisconsin. Book lovers would say it was ideal weather to curl up with a soft blanket, cup of coffee, and a good book… [Read More]
Wisconsin
A kitchen with counters, cupboards and a stove

A Family, A Home, And An Education: How Laura Got it Done

Right on the banks of the Mississippi River, Camanche, Iowa, boasts of a long history of small town life. With the big river so close, scenic views are everywhere. With larger cities nearby, education and employment opportunities are within reach. “Camanche is a grassroots… [Read More]
Iowa
Rock County Librarians Macey Lackoff and Kim Orr

There's More to the Story

National Library Week is April 23-29. The theme this year is “There’s More to the Story.” To the folks in north central Nebraska, where towns are small and there are many miles between homes, farms, and ranches, this theme comes to life at the Rock County Community Library. For… [Read More]
Nebraska
Group of adults in business suits standing on the front steps of a building. They are the 1963 coop seminar graduates of uwcc, the first class ever.

UW Center for Cooperatives Celebrates 60 Years of Serving the Co-op Community

As National Cooperative Month 2022 ends, we would like to highlight a special anniversary in the co-op world. The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (UWCC), the oldest university-based cooperative center in the nation, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.… [Read More]
Wisconsin