Text messages, social media posts, and emails may be the primary forms of communication in today’s technology-driven world, but it was a simple postcard delivered to Will Corman’s mailbox in Superior, Nebraska, that started his advocacy journey.

Nestled within UMÓⁿHOⁿ Nation lies Walthill, a small village with a big story of community resilience and progress. In 2017, Walthill opened its new public library, marking the culmination of years of hard work, determination, and collaboration.

With a $9.48 million grant from the Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program, Montezuma, a town of 1,400 residents, is paving the way for rural communities and serving as a model for the future of local energy systems in Iowa.