Reports & Publications

Check out the latest edition of our Small Business News packed full of resources for entreprenuers, those looking to own their own business, and small business managers. In this edition: Restaurant owner serves Nebraskans and Iowans an authentic taste of Mexico City: With a dream to open a business...

From vouchers to education savings accounts and tax credits, school choice incentives come in many forms. After years of failed attempts, Nebraska passed its first “school choice” legislation in 2023. The Opportunity Scholarships Act (OSA) created a tax credit program for donors who give to...

Emily Paulsen and her husband, Nathan, moved to a 15-acre farm from 6 acres, where they couldn’t access rural water and their well wasn’t very deep. They needed more water to start farming to grow food that people would eat. They began with pasture-raised livestock and vegetables. The couple grows...

Matt Johnson and Tiffiny Clifton decided to buy a farm in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was an idea that was always in the back of their minds. Tiffiny grew up on a farm, often doing chores for the neighbors. Matt would have loved to have been a farmer, but his family did not own land. They...

Wind energy was introduced to Iowa in the early 2000s and has been a feature of the landscape since. In 2021, the state was the second largest producer of wind energy and led the nation in net electricity generation at 58%. Wind development poses a number of economic benefits in job creation and...

Wind energy has been part of the Iowa landscape for decades. Today, the state is the second-largest wind power producer in the nation and has the highest share of net electricity generation, with 58% of production coming from wind in 2021. As demand for renewable energy continues to rise, Iowa’s...

Solar at all scales is a growing opportunity in Nebraska. From immense growth in residential solar to the emergence of utility-scale and community projects, solar energy in Nebraska is forecasted to increase considerably. Counties presented with the opportunity for large-scale solar projects should...

With the help of Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), has implemented multiple practices that add value and longevity to his farm in Greene, Iowa. His whole-farm approach to conservation has led to a diversified operation where row crops, livestock, and native plants and animals are all...

Through his enrollment in CSP, Will has implemented a number of conservation practices on his operation—Tri-C Farms Inc. in Hardy, Nebraska—to increase the profitability of his farm and become a better steward of natural resources. Over the years, these practices have made a significant contribution...

Katlyn Dupris and her brother began ranching in 2014. They manage a 5,000-acre operation—Maynard Dupris Ranch—in Cherry Creek, South Dakota, and understand the importance of conservation. Now in their eighth year participating in CSP, conservation is a staple of their ranching practices. "I'm...

Have you heard about our Academies? This is just one type of event we offer to entrepreneurs. Academies are multi-day, industry-specific trainings for construction, child care, restaurants, cleaning, trucking, and salons.

Theo and Bonnie Ramsey assumed ownership of what was formerly Cheese’s Food Center in April 2015, transforming it into Ramsey’s Market in Lenox, Iowa. In 2017, Ramsey’s ACE Hardware opened adjacent to Ramsey’s Market. Bonnie and Theo started a new technology grocery service called Fresh Out of the...

As demand for clean energy increases, solar deployment is expected to rise. Because utility-scale solar requires considerable land use, many state and local governments are prudently discussing the impact future solar development will have on agricultural lands. The practice of dual-use solar, which...

Tyler Bartley and his business partner were struggling to find a career they enjoyed. They decided to see if there was an opportunity to buy and sell locally and bolster the local economy, while making a modest living. In 2017, the pair piloted their farm business idea and officially started selling...

In 2011, Danelle started her farm, One Farm, and began to produce a variety of vegetables, herbs, and fruit using organic growing practices.

Noticias sobre Pequeñas Empresas del Center for Rural Affairs, incluyen historias seleccionadas de éxito de empresarios de Nebraska asistidos por nuestros programas e información que puede necesitar para iniciar o expandir su negocio.

The Center for Rural Affairs' Small Business News includes select success stories on Nebraska entrepreneurs assisted by our programs and information that you may need to start or grow your business.

In Iowa and the Midwest region, agricultural excellence, robust soils, and ample outdoor recreation are points of pride. All of these elements relate to water and depend upon healthy watersheds. To ensure they are protected and preserved, proper watershed management is essential. We all live in a...

As demand for solar energy continues to grow, agrivoltaics offers an opportunity to maximize usage of land allocated for solar projects. The co-location of solar and agriculture offers opportunities for conservation, food production, increasing pollinator habitat, and adding additional farm revenue...

The Seventh Generation Award, our lifetime service award, is presented to someone who has made major contributions in improving rural life and protecting our land and water. Jim and Lisa French, of Partridge, Kansas, are our 2022 recipients. In February, I had the privilege of visiting them and presenting the award in their community, in front of their friends and family.