Buying a house can be a daunting process for anyone and it’s easy to become discouraged or overwhelmed, but for one South Dakota family, perseverance paid off for their long journey to home ownership.

 In 2017, Heather, a U.S. Army National Guard Veteran, decided to build her home through the Great Falls NeighborWorks self-help housing program, in Great Falls, Mont.  She used a USDA Rural Development Single Family Direct Home Loan to purchase the home she built.

Click here to watch her story: U.S. Army Veteran Builds Roots in Great Falls, Mont. - YouTube

Hanson Trucking, a small enterprise located in Columbia Falls, Mont., is a family-owned trucking company which has been in business for over three decades.  Hanson Trucking is dedicated to supporting Montana’s rural economy and providing local jobs within Flathead County.  So, in 2014, when Hanson Trucking needed a surge of capital to offset operational expenses and keep their 40 employees and 32 trucks rolling, they took out a USDA Rural Development Business & Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantee through Freedom Bank.  In just 10 years, Hanson Trucking forecasts they

In 2015, Tony Olson, who is a member of the Great Falls Little Shell Tribe and a U.S. Army National Guard Veteran, brought craft brew back to Butte, Mont.  He used USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program funding to install solar panels on his brewery’s roof.  And, Olson worked with Headwaters RC&D to obtain a low-interest loan through the USDA Rural Development Intermediary Relending Program to purchase canning line equipment and increase Butte Brewing Company’s distribution options.

Rick Crook, owner of Glacier Collision Worx, in Kalispell, Mont., realized his dream of owning his own autobody collision shop through a combination of financing including a Small Business Administration loan, a loan through TrailWest Bank and Montana West Economic Development's use of USDA Rural Development’s Intermediary Relending Program (IRP).

Click here to see the story: Small Business Success: Glacier Collision Worx of Montana - YouTube

Kristen S., a single mom and resident of Red Lodge, Montana, decided to build her home through the Helena Area Habitat for Humanity self-help housing program.  As part of a new initiative, Habitat for Humanity partnered with Red Lodge Area Community Foundation and Trust Montana to secure land trust property for this Single Family Housing project, which means these homes will remain affordable for current and future homeowners.

Ghislain and Savannah Beauplant have navigated a highly competitive Cape Cod Massachusetts real estate market for almost two years, armed with patience and perseverance. The family cites their success to having the right people, providing support and knowledge, to bring them to closing.

The people the family refers to is their USDA Single Family loan specialist Patty Whalen, with the USDA Rural Development Southern New England’s Area office in Wareham and their Realtor Karen Martin, Broker and Owner of Safe Harbor Realty in Westport, MA.

Even before the pandemic, Holt County, Nebraska was facing a rural healthcare emergency. Home to just more than 10,000 people, the large county of 2,413 square miles, needed increased medical resources.

Haylee and Hayden Nix were in the market to purchase their first home after renting a house from a relative. 

Haylee said, “We wanted a home to have our own space and build equity in a property that would benefit us in the future.”