Blog Posts & Stories

Luis Franco has a passion for encouraging entrepreneurs and supporting rural economies. He began his career in the retail industry, working in accounting, payroll, and financial planning. That experience led him to the Nebraska Business Development Center, where he served three years as a business consultant supporting entrepreneurs.

When Katie Jantzen left her home state of Nebraska to attend college in Virginia, she had no idea she’d return several years later to start her own farming operation on her family’s land. On this small, diversified, family farm, Katie operates a CSA and raises vegetables, melons, herbs, berries, and honeybees.

Coming from a fourth-generation farm family, one of Jenna Sutterfield’s top priorities is finding ways to help maintain strong small communities, to sustain the rural lifestyle she knows and loves. Recently, Jenna brought her love for rural America to the Center for Rural Affairs, where she was hired as a local foods associate.

Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš used to catch fish for a living. Now, she dedicates her life to saving them and the ocean they live in. She started California-based Azul, a grassroots organization working to conserve marine resources and to bring Latinx perspectives and participation to ocean conservation.

If you are a farmer or rancher, there has never been a better time to apply for popular conservation programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In Iowa and South Dakota, the deadline to submit initial paperwork for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is Nov. 3. The deadline in Nebraska is Nov. 17.

Kjersten Hyberger grew up admiring nature, living next to a fourth-generation Nebraska farm surrounded by corn and soybean fields was an experience that shaped Kjersten’s perspective on how she viewed rural America.

Mientras Minnesota trabaja para lograr una electricidad 100% libre de carbono para el año 2040, una organización sin fines de lucro del sureste de Minnesota está aprovechando las iniciativas amplias de financiación de energía limpia para apoyar su misión.

As Minnesota works toward 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, one southeastern Minnesota nonprofit organization is taking advantage of expanded clean energy funding initiatives to support its mission.

Durante años, René Márquez soñó con tener su propio gimnasio. Entonces, cuando el menos lo esperaba, la oportunidad de comprar un espacio se le presentó la opción perfecta. Pudieron tomar posesión de Warehouse Fitness & Training Center en noviembre de 2022, gracias a la ayuda de un préstamo por parte del Programa de Asistencia a Microempresarios Rurales del Departamento de Agricultura de EE.UU.

For years, Rene Marquez dreamed of owning his own gym. Then, when he was least expecting it, the opportunity to buy a space presented itself as the perfect option. They were able to take ownership of Warehouse Fitness & Training Center in November 2022, thanks to the help of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program loan.

Joe Benson got involved in food sovereignty after he started farming on his own, sparking his interest in conservation. His hope is to move the land toward healing by bringing it back to its natural state.

Many Nebraska households still lack broadband service, and a number of them qualify for monthly assistance with their bill. More than $14 billion has been allocated through the Affordable Connectivity Program, part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Act.

Cuando eres propietario de un pequeño negocio, no faltan tareas con las que hacer malabares. Pero hay un aspecto crucial que a menudo se pasa por alto en el ajetreo y el bullicio del espíritu empresarial: los seguros. Conozca la importancia del seguro para propietarios de pequeñas empresas.

There is no shortage of tasks to juggle when you’re a small business owner. But there's one crucial aspect that often gets overlooked in the hustle and bustle of entrepreneurship: insurance. Learn of the importance of insurance for small business owners.

Over the past decade, the farm to school movement has reached millions of students in the United States and its territories. From school gardens and farm field trips to local food on cafeteria trays...

Ashley Sperling found herself drawn to the comfort of small towns and gravel roads, rural America has always been home even after she moved away for college. With her children growing up, Ashley decided she wanted to find her way back into the world of finance, she got that opportunity when she joined the Center as an accounting associate.

In southeast Iowa, Ryan Vogel and his family are laying a foundation on their farm for the years to come. Ryan always knew he wanted to come back to his family’s farm near Sigourney. After earning a...

Montana Thatcher siempre ha amado a los niños. Desde que tenía edad suficiente para cuidarlos, sabía que quería tener su propia guardería. La oportunidad de comprar la guardería llego en el otoño de 2022 y Montana lo aceptó.

Montana Thatcher has always loved children. Since she was old enough to look after them, she knew she wanted to run her own day care. The opportunity came up in fall 2022, and Montana took it.

Infrastructure is often the first hurdle to high-speed internet access for rural Americans, but it isn’t the last. Once the wires have been laid, residents still have to pay to use the service...