GREATFALLS, Mont., Oct. 27, 2024 – At the heart of Montana’s rural communities, USDA Rural Development, Montana is empowering individuals and families to transform their lives through programs like the Self-Help Housing 502 Direct Home Ownership Program. One such success story comes from Great Falls, where Lori Bonifay, a single mother of five, is building not only a home but a brighter future for her family.

A nationwide shortage of welders is plaguing the United States. In response to this reality, Tyler Sasse made the decision to develop an elite, competitive welding school in 2019. Western Welding Academy was founded in Gillette, Wyoming, a community historically associated with the coal, oil and gas industries.

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Cathy Sylvester's journey has been a remarkable testament to perseverance and resilience. She purchased a home through USDA Rural Development Indiana in 2018 as a single mom. With a USDA 502 Direct Loan, she got a modest and comfortable space for herself and her two sons, Christopher and Christian, in Greene County. 

Inspiring Journey to Home Repair

Meet Mr. Joe Lewis. Like his namesake, the former first black world heavyweight champion, Mr. Lewis, at 84 years old, is a champion in spirit. Living in Monterey, Louisiana, the unincorporated community in Concordia Parish, Mr. Lewis is one of the 439 residents who call Monterey home.

When Amber first applied to purchase a home through Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor, she had just started a new job and was looking forward to positive changes for her family. A relative had told her about Habitat’s mission helping people work with volunteers to build their own homes and secure affordable mortgages. As a first-time homebuyer and single parent, it sounded like working with Habitat might put homeownership within reach for the family, so she was excited to apply. 

Some places evoke wonderful memories of joyful years gone by. Victor’s Drive-In in Peñasco, New Mexico, is just that kind of place. Victor Martinez, a U.S. Army veteran, and his wife, Barbara, opened the restaurant in 1971.

After over 50 years in business, the restaurant’s equipment started showing signs of aging and needed replacing. Changes in environmental codes also put the business out of compliance. Martinez needed a kitchen hood with fire suppression to meet code. The kitchen hood cost over $40,000. However, without it, the restaurant remained at risk of being shut down.

Presidential Disaster Declaration DR-4831 makes individual assistance available to residents of Giles, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wythe counties and the independent city of Galax who were impacted by Tropical Storm Helene, which hit the area on September 25, 2024, and continuing.