Rural Energy Pilot Program
The Rural Energy Pilot Program (REPP) grant offers financial assistance for rural communities to further develop renewable energy.
Commercial Kitchen Opens Opportunities for Food Service in Southeastern Utah
Local leaders, board members, and stakeholders gathered to celebrate a grand opening of the Business Technical Assistance Center’s (BTAC) remote workspace and commercial kitchen on August 23, 2021, in Price, Utah. As Stephen Lisonbee, Senior Advisor for Rural Affairs, said at the event, “The kitchen is the unsung hero.”
Chasing Down Lawbreakers in the Bitterroot Valley
As Darby's Chief of Police since 1984, Marshal Larry Rose has been a fixture in this rural Montana community and, with the help of his Deputy, works tirelessly to maintain peace and order in the Bitterroot Valley.
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 Rural Energy for America Program grants to upgrade the windows and install new doors and lighting.
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 Development Business & Industry Loan Guarantee, MCM notes that they have become the "biggest of the little guys" in the craft space, us