Rural entrepreneurs, resilient communities, sustainable prosperity
THESE ARE THEIR STORIES
From Floodwaters to Fine Wine
Chris Cox was attending the University of Miami, pursuing her undergraduate degree in geoscience and supporting herself by working at a catering company, when she discovered her love for wine and the wine industry. Her…
Roofs Tell the Real Story
In this small East Texas town, where pine trees tower over winding roads and neighbors still greet each other by name, the homes tell a quieter, more urgent story — one of aging structures, storm-damaged roofs, and limited…
Storm Shield
After years of managing a leaking roof, longtime North Little Rock resident and pre-K teacher Edith Adams finally has a new roof over her head — and not just any roof, but a fortified one designed to better protect her home…
From Purity to Profit
When Alyssa Davis opened Pure Hydration Plus in Beaumont, Texas, it wasn’t just about starting a business — it was about doing it better. A former employee at a local alkaline water refill store, Davis had long believed in…
Smart Meters, Smart Moves
In East Texas’ Trinity County — home to over 14,500 residents — the Pennington Water Supply Corporation (WSC) is undertaking a major system upgrade to better serve its rural customers. With more than 1,000 active connections…
Small Steps, Big Relief
On a quiet patch of farmland in rural Phillips County, the only home still standing on a remote road belongs to 70-year-old Alenora Williams. She’s lived in the unincorporated community of Lambrook — a small Delta town…
Rebuilding from the Ground Up
Roughly 50 miles southwest of Amarillo, Texas, in the windswept plains of Deaf Smith County, a once-overlooked rural water system is slowly regaining its footing after years of disarray. Deaf Smith County Fresh Water Supply…
Tuning Up for Growth
A year and a half after launching his business, Scott Anthony is already bumping up against the limits of what one person can handle. His mobile mechanic shop, Anthony Truck Bus and Auto, hit the ground running on Jan. 1,…
Preserving the Past, Digitally
A small-town cemetery with deep roots in southeastern Oklahoma’s history is now one of the most precisely documented burial grounds in the region. A partnership between local preservationists and Communities Unlimited (CU)…
A Safer Home
Just outside the city limits of Mission, Texas — beyond the subdivisions and commercial corridors — the rural stretches of Hidalgo County tell a different story. In these quieter, unincorporated areas, many…
Owner and Opportunity
After nearly five years of renting the storefront at 700 E. Harding Avenue in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, D’Cora Dotson is now the proud owner of the space where her business, D’Cora’s Custom Cakes, has grown into a local staple.…
Field Support
What started as a backyard garden rooted in family tradition has blossomed into a small farm business providing fresh produce year-round to rural Louisiana communities. Derek Moore, owner of Moorehill Farm and Garden in the…
Cyber Threats Hit Home
A recent hands-on training hosted by Communities Unlimited (CU) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) brought a sobering reality to light: cyberattacks aren’t just a threat to big cities or tech…
From Floodwaters to Fine Wine
Chris Cox was attending the University of Miami, pursuing her undergraduate degree in geoscience and supporting herself by working at a catering company, when she discovered her love for wine and the wine industry. Her…
Roofs Tell the Real Story
In this small East Texas town, where pine trees tower over winding roads and neighbors still greet each other by name, the homes tell a quieter, more urgent story — one of aging structures, storm-damaged roofs, and limited…
Storm Shield
After years of managing a leaking roof, longtime North Little Rock resident and pre-K teacher Edith Adams finally has a new roof over her head — and not just any roof, but a fortified one designed to better protect her home…
From Purity to Profit
When Alyssa Davis opened Pure Hydration Plus in Beaumont, Texas, it wasn’t just about starting a business — it was about doing it better. A former employee at a local alkaline water refill store, Davis had long believed in…
Smart Meters, Smart Moves
In East Texas’ Trinity County — home to over 14,500 residents — the Pennington Water Supply Corporation (WSC) is undertaking a major system upgrade to better serve its rural customers. With more than 1,000 active connections…
Small Steps, Big Relief
On a quiet patch of farmland in rural Phillips County, the only home still standing on a remote road belongs to 70-year-old Alenora Williams. She’s lived in the unincorporated community of Lambrook — a small Delta town…
Rebuilding from the Ground Up
Roughly 50 miles southwest of Amarillo, Texas, in the windswept plains of Deaf Smith County, a once-overlooked rural water system is slowly regaining its footing after years of disarray. Deaf Smith County Fresh Water Supply…
Tuning Up for Growth
A year and a half after launching his business, Scott Anthony is already bumping up against the limits of what one person can handle. His mobile mechanic shop, Anthony Truck Bus and Auto, hit the ground running on Jan. 1,…
Preserving the Past, Digitally
A small-town cemetery with deep roots in southeastern Oklahoma’s history is now one of the most precisely documented burial grounds in the region. A partnership between local preservationists and Communities Unlimited (CU)…
A Safer Home
Just outside the city limits of Mission, Texas — beyond the subdivisions and commercial corridors — the rural stretches of Hidalgo County tell a different story. In these quieter, unincorporated areas, many…
Owner and Opportunity
After nearly five years of renting the storefront at 700 E. Harding Avenue in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, D’Cora Dotson is now the proud owner of the space where her business, D’Cora’s Custom Cakes, has grown into a local staple.…
