Lending
Small Towns
Farm and Food
Policy
In this edition:
- ‘We won’t stop’: the Heartland Food Business Coalition carries on when funding falls short: Our momentum was suddenly interrupted in July 2025, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its intent to end funding for this initiative. Fortunately, alongside our partners we are continuing our mission under the new name Heartland Food Business Coalition.
- Rural advocates honored: The Center for Rural Affairs has recognized five outstanding people and businesses building strong and vibrant rural communities as part of Center’s annual awards.
- Bilingual child care services are vital for town’s next generation: Even though close to 19% of the population of Fremont, Nebraska—over 5,000 people—is Latino, until recently, the area lacked day cares that provided services specific to those families. Elida Canjura decided it was time to change that, and opened Ely Children Care, the first bilingual child care center in the area. She serves three families.
- The perfect storm: as health policies start to take effect, rural states will suffer: Health care providers and individuals face major challenges from a trio of policies set in motion by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and Congress’s failure thus far to extend expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
- You can go home again: conservation fellow leaves city life behind, brings sustainable practices to family farm: As part of the conservation fellowship, farmers design and implement a project. Denice’s project involves purchasing a freeze dryer to increase the lifespan of her harvested mushrooms.
- Notes from supporters: Thanks for your kind words of encouragement!
- Federal immigration actions affect rural communities, too: While the presence and actions of federal agents in Minnesota’s Twin Cities were a high-profile national news story earlier this year, federal agents have also been active in small cities and rural communities across the country.
- Bonus insert: Thank you, 2025 donors!
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