Rural entrepreneurs, resilient communities, sustainable prosperity
THESE ARE THEIR STORIES
Transporting Smiles
On any given day, Dr. Camille Tabor-Cobb can be found hauling dental chairs, sterilization supplies, and instruments out of the trunk of her Sedan, setting up wherever her patients need her most. For two…
Building Forward
Construction is almost like playing with Legos for Arkansas builder Vernon James. On his job sites, he sees walls and beams going up like puzzle pieces, fitting together one by one. “As a kid, Legos were my favorite toy — I…
Born From a Hack
Years ago, a cyberattack on a side business turned Cecile Mengue’s life upside down. The incident wiped out everything she had built and left her asking tough questions: “How did I get hacked? What made me a target?” That…
Hope on the Doorstep
On a hot July morning in Belzoni, Mississippi, Clerk Delores Harris opened the doors of City Hall expecting a steady trickle of residents. Instead, she was met with a line that stretched down the block — families clutching…
Develop the Developer
Communities Unlimited (CU), in partnership with Freddie Mac, is excited to launch the Develop the Developer Academy — a program designed to equip aspiring and early-stage real estate developers with the skills, knowledge,…
Gordon Rebounds
When Charles Dismuke first took office as mayor of Gordon, he didn’t know if the small southeastern Alabama town could keep going. “To be honest, things weren’t very good,” he recalled. “We weren’t really able to function…
Farm Forward
When the pandemic brought the world to a halt, Stacey McGraw and her husband, Charlie, found themselves spending more time at home in rural Clayton, Louisiana. What might have been idle hours for some turned into a moment…
Seeds of Change
When Mayor Barbara Domain walks behind Ames City Hall these days, she sees more than rows of okra, peppers, zucchini, and squash. She sees neighbors trading recipes, children learning where their food comes from, and a…
Surviving and Thriving
In a year when many small food businesses in rural Arkansas have closed their doors, Misha Murphy’s business is still rolling. Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Bakery & Burgers, credits her resilience to creativity, community…
Next Chapter
When Katie Stone was growing up in foster care, she often felt like she was missing a guidebook for life. Nobody had shown her how to navigate hard conversations or prepare for the milestones ahead. Years later, as…
Shining Future
Jennifer White will be the first to admit she’s old-fashioned — she grew up in her grandparents’ household. When she was younger, it was easier to walk into an employer’s office, shake someone’s hand, and land a job. Today,…
From Setbacks to Shine
Joy Harvey is a small business owner proving that resilience can pay off even in uncertain times. As the owner of Harvey’s Detail Connection, a premium mobile automotive detailing business in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Harvey is…
Transporting Smiles
On any given day, Dr. Camille Tabor-Cobb can be found hauling dental chairs, sterilization supplies, and instruments out of the trunk of her Sedan, setting up wherever her patients need her most. For two…
Building Forward
Construction is almost like playing with Legos for Arkansas builder Vernon James. On his job sites, he sees walls and beams going up like puzzle pieces, fitting together one by one. “As a kid, Legos were my favorite toy — I…
Born From a Hack
Years ago, a cyberattack on a side business turned Cecile Mengue’s life upside down. The incident wiped out everything she had built and left her asking tough questions: “How did I get hacked? What made me a target?” That…
Hope on the Doorstep
On a hot July morning in Belzoni, Mississippi, Clerk Delores Harris opened the doors of City Hall expecting a steady trickle of residents. Instead, she was met with a line that stretched down the block — families clutching…
Develop the Developer
Communities Unlimited (CU), in partnership with Freddie Mac, is excited to launch the Develop the Developer Academy — a program designed to equip aspiring and early-stage real estate developers with the skills, knowledge,…
Gordon Rebounds
When Charles Dismuke first took office as mayor of Gordon, he didn’t know if the small southeastern Alabama town could keep going. “To be honest, things weren’t very good,” he recalled. “We weren’t really able to function…
Farm Forward
When the pandemic brought the world to a halt, Stacey McGraw and her husband, Charlie, found themselves spending more time at home in rural Clayton, Louisiana. What might have been idle hours for some turned into a moment…
Seeds of Change
When Mayor Barbara Domain walks behind Ames City Hall these days, she sees more than rows of okra, peppers, zucchini, and squash. She sees neighbors trading recipes, children learning where their food comes from, and a…
Surviving and Thriving
In a year when many small food businesses in rural Arkansas have closed their doors, Misha Murphy’s business is still rolling. Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Bakery & Burgers, credits her resilience to creativity, community…
Next Chapter
When Katie Stone was growing up in foster care, she often felt like she was missing a guidebook for life. Nobody had shown her how to navigate hard conversations or prepare for the milestones ahead. Years later, as…
