The pandemic and

Brenda Dela Torriente twines the lines of fiber with precision. Her brows are furrowed as her fingers find the ridges between the cords, working them at an astonishing speed. It's a painstaking process. For the town of Montello, Nevada, it's also a deeply important one.

Those feet of fiber will go in the ground and connect to a miles-long circuit bringing jobs, healthcare, education, economic prosperity, and, of course, high-speed internet.

In a world where imported blooms typically dominate our bouquets and arrangements, there remains a healthy demand for local, seasonal flowers in Maine. Ranunculus, Lisianthus, dahlias, and hydrangeas are popular for being the beautiful workhorses of flower designs, but they don’t particularly ship well. Growing them locally makes sense.

In a small rural community nestled in the foothills of southeast Ohio’s Appalachian region, the city of Nelsonville recently celebrated a water infrastructure milestone with the opening of its new regional wastewater treatment facility.  

Built in 1956, the original facility operated well beyond its expected lifecycle. Inflow capacity was limited, and when it rained the challenges multiplied. The system routinely fell short of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for wastewater discharge into the nearby Hocking River.

Bob Morgan, State Director of USDA Rural Development

It starts with caring.

On May 2, 2024, I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the ribbon cutting ceremony for a new mental health service center in Uniontown, Pa. The facility, funded through our essential community facilities program, gives locals in need of care a place to meet with qualified professionals from the Fayette County Mental Health Association. 

John and Kathleen Crandell thought that owning their own home was just a dream. But this dream finally became a reality. This retired couple, ages 70 and 68, had always rented and lived on a fixed income from Social Security and a small pension.

Hundreds of local residents and visitors gather at Waynesboro’s Zeus Digital Theater each week to view the latest theatrical releases on eight big screens, never realizing that they are being transported to other worlds via the power of the sun.

A 241kw system perched high atop the 40-foot building keeps the entertainment venue operating at peak efficiency to lower costs so the show can go on for many years to come. While it may not be a Hollywood blockbuster, the Zeus story is one worth telling with compelling characters and a few plot twists before the big payoff.

USDA Rural Development is making one their most dynamic and impactful investments with their partnership with GHA Autism Supports Morrow Valley Farmstead.

The investment of $2.6 million into the home for aging individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities is a game changer, according to GHA Autism Supports Chief Executive Officer Dawn Allen.

The 50-acre farm is more than just a home for 10 people, in varying ages, who are autistic. It is a place where the residents can find joy and experience activities that enrich their lives.

Have you ever heard your heart in your ears? It’s that adrenaline rush that results from both good and bad events in our life. Often enough the events that trigger this feeling are good, your favorite team winning, that lucky break or unexpected promotion. There are also times in life that events happen without our control. Going into spring of 2022 the last thing that Norma Nix, a resident of Mineral Hills New Mexico expected was anything out of the ordinary.