Blog Posts & Stories

Scorching temperatures with little rain might not prompt public fears about flooding, but that isn't stopping leaders in northeastern Iowa from preparing for the next deluge.

Acknowledging the importance of community participation in collecting broadband data, the Nebraska Regional Officials Council (NROC) is asking individuals living in Nebraska and Pottawattamie and...

Small business entrepreneurship is a key source of job creation for rural counties. These businesses generate economic activity that can multiply throughout the community.

On Wednesday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law House File 857, which will provide assistance to new and existing small meat processors across the state. Center for Rural Affairs staff were in attendance, and applauded the bill’s commitment to Iowa’s small processors.

Allen Chlopek has spent his career so far supporting rural America, and, in his newest venture, he wants to continue that trend and make people’s homeownership and business dreams come true. Recently...

In the years since, the Savilles have continued to grow their business, Spiritus Vitae Botanicals, as well as the amount of land they have put into production. They had to relocate their farm several times over the years, but they were not deterred—until now.

Homeownership remains out of reach for many hard-working Nebraska families because of stagnant wages and lack of access to traditional mortgages.

When a long-time Laurel business went on the market and no one was buying, Roger Myers took it upon himself to make sure the town didn’t lose one of its beloved establishments. In November 2020, he bought Floral Footprints, and has successfully run it since.

Earlier this year, President Joe Biden signed an executive order calling for strengthening vulnerable agricultural supply chains and encouraging production here at home.

Great accomplishments often require a cooperative effort. At Litchfield Public Schools, in Litchfield, Nebraska, staff and students have come together over the past school year to grow great success in their greenhouse program, and they have received statewide recognition for their hard work.

Last week, the first session of the 107th Legislature of the State of Nebraska came to an early conclusion. The rural priority bills supported by the Center this year saw tremendous success.

With a nearly-unanimous vote last month, the Nebraska Legislature retained and improved one of the only incentives available to businesses of five or fewer employees.

​​​​​​​On Feb. 24, President Joe Biden signed an executive order on resilient supply chains. As a part of this order, the President called for the advancement of agriculture supply chains that are less vulnerable to disruption and sourced here at home.

For the past decade, area restaurants have featured some of the finest quality organic heirloom vegetables on their menus thanks to Squeaky Green Organics. Brian and Suzanne Kliewer own and operate...

Black Hills Energy customers will no longer find solar a financially feasible option to cut their energy costs if a proposed tariff on renewable energy generation is approved. In an application submitted to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, the company is asking to implement a “buy all, sell all’’ tariff on new customers who generate their own renewable energy.

During this school year, students at Nebraska Christian Schools in Central City have been eating fresh, delicious vegetables in their school lunches—vegetables they grew themselves in their school greenhouse.

Leaders are the life-blood of small towns and rural communities. The success or failure of community development efforts often rests with the degree of leadership local residents are willing to provide.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020, many business owners figured out new, innovative ways to draw in potential customers. One of the alternative methods to face-to-face interaction is the use...

Four months and seven days. That’s how long the 2021 Iowa legislative session lasted. Lawmakers completed their business and adjourned Wednesday night just before midnight.

Desde hacer uñas con cita previa en su casa hasta comprar su propio salón, Verónica Ramos es un excelente ejemplo de emprendedora de éxito.