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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…

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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: 873 Stories
Blue shirt with wife and catdog

Building a Legacy: Andrew Michael Cochran’s Journey to Homeownership with USDA’s Mutual Self Help Program

For Andrew Michael Cochran, home is more than just a place—it’s a legacy. At just 23 years old, Andrew made the decision to build his own home through USDA Rural Development’s Mutual Self Help Program, following in the footsteps of his parents, who had done the same when he was… [Read More]
Montana
Valley telecommunications store front

Valley Telecommunications extends network to provide high-speed internet

Valley Telecommunications has been providing its members in the Herreid area with quality service for nearly 70 years. The Cooperative strived to deliver the high speed, reliable internet service to its members across McPherson, Edmunds, and Campbell counties. When an… [Read More]
South Dakota
Firefighter in front of fire truck

Java Fire District replaces oldest brush truck with modern upgrade

The expansive landscape of north central South Dakota provides fertile ground for farmers and ranchers. Due to the dry grasslands and warm summers, the area faces an elevated risk of wildfires.In the event of a wildfire, the 20 volunteers of the Java Fire District depend on its… [Read More]
South Dakota
A woman stands in a farmers' market booth with a Precipice Coffee banner behind her and coffee displayed on the table in front of her. The tent is green and encloses the scene.

Little Roaster Avoids a Big Stink with Clean Technology

Precipice Coffee is roasted in the company's small Ellsworth location using a zero-emissions Bellwether Coffee roaster, pictured here.  Early in the process of establishing their new coffee business, Maggie Iannuzzi and her husband… [Read More]
Maine
Greenville Town Manager Mike Roy stands in front of one of the town's fire trucks in the new public safety building.

Enhancing Public Safety in the Highlands of Maine

Located in the Highlands region of Maine, the town of Greenville has long been a vacation destination. In recent years, the community has welcomed even more visitors pursuing outdoor recreation and lakeside living. While the influx of… [Read More]
Maine
Man standing next to world's largest pistachio

Sun Powers Production Next to World’s Largest Pistachio

When Thomas McGinn and his son, Tim, moved from Southern California to the desert of New Mexico in 1980, Thomas was looking for a change. He wanted to get back into farming and get out of his job working in food production for big factories.He purchased land for a farm and built… [Read More]
New Mexico
Carmen greets Alberto in her newly renovated home

El Desarrollo Rural de USDA Ayuda a Restaurar la Esperanza en Loiza, Puerto Rico

Carmen, una residente de mucho tiempo en la tranquila comunidad de Loiza, Puerto Rico, ha experimentado su parte de dificultades. En 1999, Carmen y su difunto esposo compraron su casa con un pequeño préstamo de su suegra. Durante años, la pareja disfrutó de su vida en Loiza.… [Read More]
Puerto Rico
Carmen greets Alberto in her newly renovated home

USDA Rural Development Helps Restore Hope in Loiza, Puerto Rico

Carmen, a longtime resident of the quiet community of Loiza, Puerto Rico, has experienced her share of hardships. In 1999, Carmen and her late husband purchased their home with a small loan from her mother-in-law. For years, the couple enjoyed their life in Loiza.“Everything is… [Read More]
Puerto Rico
Iris standing in front of her house in Loiza, Puerto Rico

De la lucha a la estabilidad: Restaurando una casa familiar en Loíza

En un terreno multigeneracional en la zona rural de Loíza, Puerto Rico, se erige un nuevo hogar para Iris. Iris es una de nueve hermanos que crecieron en la casa, originalmente construida en un terreno que fue legado por sus abuelos."Los abuelos le dieron un pedazo de tierra a… [Read More]
Puerto Rico
Owner Gary and manager Eric of Replenova Farm pose inside the farm store, with shelves of local foods arrayed behind them.

Solar Energy Helps New Farm on the Road to Financial Sustainability

Retired biochemist Gary Goodrich founded Replenova Farm in 2015, after decades spent growing healthy produce as a pastime. He had sold his Portland biotech company and was ready to dive into organic farming. In 2019 he purchased land and relocated the farm to Durham, Maine,… [Read More]
Maine