Rural entrepreneurs, resilient communities, sustainable prosperity
THESE ARE THEIR STORIES
Rural Communities Score Big
It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. That was the case for Communities Unlimited (CU) and the Community Sustainability Team in March 2024. Office manager Calise Smith was seeking to donate nine…
Louisiana Entrepreneur Expands Business
** This story is a follow-up to our story from April 2023 “New Salon A Natural Extension For Owner” ** In 2023, Louisiana Entrepreneur Justine McCall embarked on a life-changing journey. Following the opening of…
Passion Leads To Progress
Wright City, Oklahoma, once a thriving timber industry hub, faced economic distress following the closure of its primary employer in 2009. The loss of jobs and income strained the town’s finances, hindering efforts to…
Mississippi Entrepreneur Reaps Millions
After almost 50 years devoted to the coatings industry, Mississippi entrepreneur Earl Washington proactively initiated succession planning in 2023 for his business, U.S. Coating Specialties & Supplies. Washington, the…
Arkansas Entrepreneur’s Journey To Success
At 17 years old, John Peyton Schmidt decided to drop out of Fayetteville (Ark.) High School. During that period, he grappled with drug involvement, faced instability within his family, and struggled with substance…
Rapid Success
Since acquiring Unlimited Designs from a church friend in 2019, Janet Molandes has been at the helm of the Nacogdoches, Texas-based custom printing outlet. Unlimited Designs stands out for its expertise in crafting…
My First Community Visit
To say my first road trip as a staff member at Communities Unlimited (CU) was eye-opening would be an understatement. I started at CU on March 11, 2024, so I am brand new to the company. Being on my first road trip and not…
Loan Boost
Texas repairman Wilbur Griffin II vividly remembers May 19, 2019, as a day that started like any other. Griffin II, then a technician at Mr. Appliance, woke up, prepared for work, and set off in his truck. However,…
Farm To School
In 2022, partners Communities Unlimited (CU), Eat Real, and Healthy Flavors received a Farm to School grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen farm-to-school programs throughout the…
Joy On Wheels
For Arkansas entrepreneur Araceli Ochoa, the journey from waitress to business owner wasn’t just about financial success. It was about crafting a lifestyle that allowed her to be present with her 8-year-old daughter,…
Unearthing History
In the heart of the East Texas Community of Pineland, Texas, sits Georgia-Pacific Corporation, one of the world’s leading makers of tissue, pulp, packaging, and building products. Like many manufacturers, Georgia-Pacific…
Private Well Peace Of Mind
Groundwater quality in Tennessee varies widely across the state. While the western region is known for its reliable water sources, the geological composition in the middle and eastern parts of Tennessee creates differences…
Rural Communities Score Big
It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. That was the case for Communities Unlimited (CU) and the Community Sustainability Team in March 2024. Office manager Calise Smith was seeking to donate nine…
Louisiana Entrepreneur Expands Business
** This story is a follow-up to our story from April 2023 “New Salon A Natural Extension For Owner” ** In 2023, Louisiana Entrepreneur Justine McCall embarked on a life-changing journey. Following the opening of…
Passion Leads To Progress
Wright City, Oklahoma, once a thriving timber industry hub, faced economic distress following the closure of its primary employer in 2009. The loss of jobs and income strained the town’s finances, hindering efforts to…
Mississippi Entrepreneur Reaps Millions
After almost 50 years devoted to the coatings industry, Mississippi entrepreneur Earl Washington proactively initiated succession planning in 2023 for his business, U.S. Coating Specialties & Supplies. Washington, the…
Arkansas Entrepreneur’s Journey To Success
At 17 years old, John Peyton Schmidt decided to drop out of Fayetteville (Ark.) High School. During that period, he grappled with drug involvement, faced instability within his family, and struggled with substance…
Rapid Success
Since acquiring Unlimited Designs from a church friend in 2019, Janet Molandes has been at the helm of the Nacogdoches, Texas-based custom printing outlet. Unlimited Designs stands out for its expertise in crafting…
My First Community Visit
To say my first road trip as a staff member at Communities Unlimited (CU) was eye-opening would be an understatement. I started at CU on March 11, 2024, so I am brand new to the company. Being on my first road trip and not…
Loan Boost
Texas repairman Wilbur Griffin II vividly remembers May 19, 2019, as a day that started like any other. Griffin II, then a technician at Mr. Appliance, woke up, prepared for work, and set off in his truck. However,…
Farm To School
In 2022, partners Communities Unlimited (CU), Eat Real, and Healthy Flavors received a Farm to School grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen farm-to-school programs throughout the…
Joy On Wheels
For Arkansas entrepreneur Araceli Ochoa, the journey from waitress to business owner wasn’t just about financial success. It was about crafting a lifestyle that allowed her to be present with her 8-year-old daughter,…
