Located in the northeastern corner of South Dakota sits a county dotted with lakes, ponds and rolling hills. Agriculture plays an important role in the economy, and when summer and fall arrive, Day County sees its population more than double as anglers, hunters and outdoorsmen find their way to this prime wildlife habitat.

Many people have a passion for coffee. In fact, many of us cannot imagine starting our day without it. But for Pam and Jan Aggerbeck, owners of Cape Cod Coffee in Mashpee, Massachusetts, every cup of coffee is a part of their story of sustainability- And an opportunity to give back. (watch the video here) (Pictured above are: Jan Aggerbeck, Owner, and Michelle Gribben, Marketing Coordinator, Cape Cod Coffee)

The Hualapai Tribal Utility Authority proposes to construct the Grand Canyon West 69 kV Interconnection Project. The proposed project is located in Mohave County, Arizona. The project will reduce the reliance on diesel generators to provide electricity to Grand Canyon West and will connect the community to the electric grid. 
 

The Local Crowd Cooperative (TLC Cooperative) has a new ring to it. Thanks to a grant from USDA Rural Development, The Local Crowd (TLC) is transitioning its organization to a national member-owned cooperative.

For nearly 10 years, The Local Crowd has worked with rural communities to support the growth and sustainability of local businesses and organizations.

Environmental Assessment (EA) for Effingham Energy Facility Combustion Turbine Upgrades Project
Notice of Availability for the EA

McClellanville is a small town in rural South Carolina whose economy relies heavily on commercial fishing and seafood production. Unlike other coastal towns in South Carolina, McClellanville has kept its working waterfront from developing into high-end residential property, restaurants, and hotels. At the town’s fishing docks, one can still see commercial fishing boats unloading their catch and restocking with fuel, food, and ice for another trip out to sea. As idyllic as this scene is, this way of life is threatened by more than just development: its workforce is disappearing.

St. Helena Island, South Carolina, is home to the Black-owned Gullah Farmers’ Cooperative. The co-op is named after the Gullah Geechee, an African American community known for its careful preservation of African cultural heritage in South Carolina and Georgia.  

Sandra was born and raised in the rural town of Greenwood, Mississippi, but wanted more excitement in her life. She moved to Los Angeles in her early 20’s and loved it, but she got terribly homesick for her family every time she called home. In 1999, she followed her heart home to take care of her ailing mother and never looked back.  

“Ain’t nowhere like my little country town,” Sandra said.  

Doris is a retired nurse who has lived in her home in Greenwood, Mississippi for 42 years. When USDA Rural Development (RD) and the Delta Design Build Workshop (Delta DB) visited her in late January 2022, her home’s kitchen ceiling beam sagged down so low that she could touch it while standing on her slanted floor. Her roof had holes and was deteriorating, walls were separating, and floors were sagging. Water had leaked through the roof, and other factors contributed to the house’s structural problems.