The 890 rural residents of the city of Rushville are currently served by a 1974 pumper truck that was refurbished in 1994. The vehicle lacks 4x4 wheel drive which is critical during poor weather conditions.  Also, the truck can't pump and roll simultaneously, and does not have four full size doors, endangering the security of firefighters not inside while en-route.  

USDA Rural Development assisted with a $50,000 Community Facilities Disaster Grant to purchase a 2020 Freightliner Fire Pumper Truck that is fully functional.  

The focus of any fire department is to reduce deaths and injury due to fire related hazards. Having protective clothing as well as updated trucks and equipment is vital, which improves the efficiency and delivery of fire protection services.

One of the most rewarding feelings for us at USDA Rural Development is making the call to an applicant once they're approved for a loan under the 502 Direct Home Program. You can hear the excitement in their voice and you can feel the gratitude through the phone lines. This was no different with the Hill family.  Mary Hill and her children, Rhylee (seven) and Colin (3 weeks), were able to purchase their first home in April.

Tyler Glaser was tired of renting and wanted a home he could shape into his own.  As he works in Norfolk, Neb. it was an easy decision for him to decide where he wanted to own.
 
"My Mom works at a title company in Norfolk and pointed me in the right direction to NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska (NWNEN), said Glaser." "The funding process was easy and I never really had any issues with anything. If something came up it was always easy to take care of.  Between working with USDA Rural Development and NWNEN the process was smooth."

Miranda Keifer is a single mother of a nine year old daughter.  They currently live in Norfolk, Neb. which they decided to call their hometown.   

Miranda had rented for years and was now ready to take the ultimate step, buying her first house.

Barbara Cagle is an avid gardener and knows how important the early spring rains are to her flowers. This year however, the April showers threatened the safety of her home. Barbara, who lives in Tracy City, Tenn which is a persistent poverty county, knew when her roof started to leak, she would need help getting it replaced. Barbara has sought the assistance of the Rural Development Home Repair Loan & Grant program in the past, so she called the local Chattanooga Area Office to see if they would be able to help her again.

New Orleans natives, Kerry and Trellis Smith, had long dreamed of purchasing a home but because of limited resources, low inventory, and the rising costs of houses in North Texas, this dream seemed out of reach.

As a single mother of two children, Edna Contreras worked hard but didn't think it was possible for her to actually own her own home until she learned about USDA Rural Development.  

With her children grown, Edna was living in a place where she struggled to afford the utility bills.  She knew something had to change.

One of the benefits of owning your own small business is the ability to be nimble and make quick financial and operational decisions when the need arises.

Shawn and Mariah Butenschoen are proof of this. The Butenschoens own a five-acre organic blueberry farm in Elverson, a town in the Northwest part of the state, just a short drive from the Canadian border.

For over 30 years, Mike Long has worked in some way at the grocery store in downtown Pineville that carries his last name. After all, his father opened it.

“We have about 60 employees,” he said, “and we pride ourselves on being a strong part of our community. Part of that is putting money back into the business and staying up with trends so we’re still here for another 30 years.”