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Success Stories

A mother and three daughters pose around a dining room table. There are lace curtains and blue wall in the background and some dishes on the table in the foreground.

“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…
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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: 907 Stories
Four members of the Cold Mountain Snowmobile Club are shown seated on an orange snow dragger equipment outdoors under bright sun.

Grand Boost for Grand Isle Winter Economy

The Cold Mountain Snowmobile Club (CMSC) is based in Grand Isle, Maine. Located in the St. John Valley, the town is in the northernmost region of the state, where snowmobiles are an important feature of winter life. Businesses rely on local… [Read More]
Maine
BusinessEconomic DevelopmentGrants
Picture of USDA Rural Development team presenting award poster to YMCA Leadership.

New YMCA Opens in Ottawa, IL: A Boost for Community Health and Wellness

The city of Ottawa warmly welcomed its new YMCA facility in May 2024; a testament to community investment and local collaboration aimed at promoting health, wellness, and social engagement. This state-of-the-art facility represents a $27.5 million investment in the community,… [Read More]
Illinois
Community FacilitiesInfrastructure
Aerial view of Bluff Dwellings rooftops with red cliffs in background.

Bringing Renewable Energy to Southeast Utah Using the Desert's Greatest Resource

The remote desert of Southeastern Utah brings a landscape like no other. While towering red rock mesas and sandstone cliffs provide amazing views you see very few people, and an abundance of sunshine. Southeast Utah’s San Juan County is the largest county in Utah, covering over… [Read More]
Utah
Clean EnergyCOREREAPRenewable EnergyRural DevelopmentSolar EnergyUnderserved
Map of Roy Blunt Reservoir

Local, State, Federal agencies join forces to provide safe drinking water

In northern rural Missouri, 10 counties have faced a continued challenge: safe, affordable drinking water. But that’s about to change.Thanks in part to Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Program (WEP), these 10 counties will no longer wonder if their water will continue… [Read More]
Missouri
Water
Oksana holding a piece of freshly picked ginger in her greenhouse

From Strife to Shelf: How a First-Generation Russian Farmer is Turning her Battles into Business

Starting a farming business can be a rewarding venture. However, it requires careful planning, preparation, and access to various skills and resources. This task proved to be especially challenging and rewarding for first-generation business owner and Russian immigrant, Oksana… [Read More]
Delaware, Maryland, and District of Columbia (DC)
Business
Residents of Woody Hollow Cooperative in Boscawen, NH

Woody Hollow Cooperative Goes Over and Under the Challenges of Aging Infrastructure

Woody Hollow Cooperative in Boscawen, New Hampshire is a 30-lot, resident-owned community that had to face the reality of aging water infrastructure. With a system dating back to the 70s, residents suffered the effects of poor surface drainage, constant leaks and ruptures, and… [Read More]
Vermont and New Hampshire
Housing
A solar array on the top of a roof with fall colors in the trees behind

A new megawatt solar array is saving energy and decreasing production costs on the rooftop at Kolbe in Wausau

After 78 years, Kolbe Windows & Doors in Wausau is still embracing change and finding new ways to save energy and operating expenses. A new megawatt solar array is saving energy while cutting costs at Kolbe Windows & Doors, which is a millwork factory and showroom… [Read More]
Wisconsin
REAP
Ashley's home and family

Creating a Legacy: Ashley Elk Nation builds forever home in Badger Park

Submitted by Four Bands Community FundAshley Elk Nation had been living in a single-wide mobile home in Eagle Butte with her two sons for several years. Although she owned the home, her desire to do her best for her children was tugging her towards a safer neighborhood."I wanted… [Read More]
South Dakota
HomeownershipHousingRural DevelopmentTribal
A stunned mother and daughter watch flood waters overtake State Street and the Vermont Capitol lawn

RD Partners Up to Help VT Communities Impacted by Disaster

When natural disaster strikes, rural communities across America struggle to capitalize on state, federal and nonprofit funding. Local leaders are often unpaid volunteers already donating significant time to various municipal functions, so the extra hours, energy and expertise… [Read More]
Vermont and New Hampshire
Disaster
Southern Idaho Solid Waste, Burley ID

Beyond the Landfill: Big Improvements for Southern Idaho’s Solid Waste System

With an overflow of waste, protecting public health and the environment begins with responsible waste management. In Southern Idaho, the Southern Idaho Regional Solid Waste District (SISW) is taking charge by making upgrades to their regions district that serves a… [Read More]
Idaho
EnvironmentalRural DevelopmentSolid WasteWastewater

Additional Success Stories