Niobrara Nebraska from nearby hill

Blog Posts & Stories

What's happening with the Center for Rural Affairs? Find the latest on rural America and our work here.

In our second highest viewed post of 2022, we feature our second business of our countdown. River Mill Coffee in Neligh, Nebraska, is run by two women who focus on creating an atmosphere in this rural...
  • Lending
Today, we share number three in our top five blog posts countdown, an informative piece for those who are looking to relocate to a rural area. Molly Malone writes about incentives available in...
  • Small Towns
The year in review countdown continues with a blog featuring a small meat processor who has helped advance our public policy. Coming in at number four is a blog on Kent Wiese, owner of Amend's Packing...
  • Small Towns
Welcome to the end-of-year countdown. To celebrate the end of 2022 and the new year, we are taking a look at the top blogs of the year. Starting today through Jan. 1, we'll review the five best Center...
  • Lending
With the booming popularity of food trucks, the people who own and operate them need a standard set of operating rules. That's the point of some legislation soon to be introduced in Nebraska. The Center for Rural Affairs has found a "mishmash" of regulations for food trucks in Nebraska cities, counties and Department of Agriculture inspection areas.
  • Lending
  • Small Towns
Accurate data is a must if Nebraska is going to improve broadband access in rural areas. Due to recent federal legislation, accuracy is also the key to ensuring states receive their full share of federal grant funding. Soon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will determine the amount of money each state is allocated through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program.
  • Lending
  • Small Towns
The desire to become more self-sustainable led Jazz to explore agriculture. In an effort to continue their agricultural education, Jazz applied to the 2022 Center for Rural Affairs Beginning Farmer Conservation Fellowship Program.
  • Policy
  • Farm and Food
Cuando se presentó la oportunidad de cambiar su trayectoria profesional de una manera que le permitiera a Olga ver más a su familia, además de trabajar con ellos todos los días, supo que había encontrado el negocio adecuado.
  • Lending
When the opportunity to change her career path presented itself in a way that would allow Olga to see her family more, as well as work with them every day, she knew she found the right business.
  • Lending
Robert Blake clearly has a passion for solar energy. A Tribal citizen of the Red Lake Nation, Robert's enthusiasm is fueled by what he sees as an immense opportunity for Native communities to reap...
  • Policy
A study released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates between 2018 and 2020, close to 120,000 households in Nebraska faced food insecurity, which the agency defines as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active and healthy life.
  • Small Towns
  • Farm and Food
Federal working lands conservation programs play a significant role in a producer’s efforts to care for natural resources. Both the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) are designed to target specific priority resource concerns, ensuring the conservation work done by farmers and ranchers has an impact where it’s needed most.
  • Policy
Dennis Demmel, presidente de la junta para el Centro piensa que el trabajo en zonas rurales de Estados Unidos como una inversión en un futuro sostenible con una fuerte economía rural.
  • Small Towns
Dennis Demmel, board president of the Center thinks of the Center's work in rural America as an investment in a sustainable future with a resilient rural economy.
  • Small Towns
Since getting into farming, Tricey Chea has developed a special interest in growing flowers and herbs. Her interest and growing knowledge of farming led her to apply to the 2022 Center for Rural Affairs Beginning Farmer Conservation Fellowship Program.
  • Farm and Food
During tax season, some people find themselves overwhelmed about knowing which forms to use or how to calculate things correctly, but María Dávila is always ready to help.
  • Lending
  • Small Towns
Durante la temporada de impuestos, algunas personas se sienten abrumadas por saber qué formularios usar o cómo calcular los números correctamente, pero María Dávila siempre esta lista para ayudar.
  • Lending
  • Small Towns
The number of Americans using telehealth services surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.National Medicare telehealth visits, for example, increased from 840,000 in 2019 to almost 53 million in 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Unfortunately, Nebraska experienced a lower level of growth.
  • Small Towns
The Center for Rural Affairs is launching collaborative work spaces on Nebraska Indian Community College campuses in Macy and Santee for making, learning, exploring and sharing. The "Makerspaces" will include traditional, low-tech tools, and also significant investments in cutting-edge technologies.
  • Lending
  • Small Towns
This holiday season, pitching in to support a small business may be easier than you think. Many small towns are proud to feature a vibrant main street, and rightfully so. Busy storefronts are a sign of activity and growth. They also indicate strong community support.
  • Lending
  • Small Towns