Disaster

After Reoccurring Flooding, Moberly, Missouri, Business Owners to See Relief

Running a small business can be challenging. Owners often wear multiple hats, performing customer service and human resources, conducting bookkeeping, and providing maintenance and sanitation. Business owners in downtown Moberly, Missouri have an extra layer of stress worrying that each time it rains, their business could flood again. A 2019 disaster supplemental grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is helping to change all that.

May 12, 2021

Small Business/RLF

Wisconsin Flower Shop Blooms Thanks to EDA-Funded Revolving Loan Fund

As the coronavirus pandemic kept families and friends apart, sending flowers became an appealing option to show loved ones that they were missed.

May 7, 2021

Small Business/RLF

EDA and Feed the Hunger Help Stabilize Market Access for Hawaii’s Small Farmers

The coronavirus pandemic hit Hawaii’s tourist economy like the surf at Pe’ahi; almost overnight, visitor arrivals plummeted more than 99 percent.¹ But the impact of the disaster was felt far beyond the normally crowded beaches and mega-resorts of Waikiki and Wailea.

May 5, 2021

Disaster

EDA Supports Mendocino County’s Independent Retailers Transition to Digital Economy

Straddling a winding section of California’s “Lost Coast,” Mendocino County is a picturesque, semi-rural region known for its dozens of wineries and microbreweries, as well as a stunning natural landscape that makes it a popular weekend destination for residents of nearby San Francisco.

April 21, 2021

Economic Development Districts, Small Business/RLF

In the Oregon Outback, an Iconic General Store Powers through the Pandemic with EDA Support

In some rural parts of Eastern Oregon, the 1979 oil crisis wasn’t felt the same way it was in Seattle, Portland, or Boise.

“We’ve never run out of gasoline to sell, but then we don’t sell a helluva lot,” Lloyd Grisel, then the owner of Hart Mountain Store in Oregon’s sparsely populated Lake County, was quoted in a July 1979 UPI article.

April 14, 2021

Small Business/RLF

Grocery Store Owners Improve Access to Local and Healthy Foods Thanks to RLF Program

Accessing healthy and affordable foods is an increasing challenge to many North Dakota residents. Much of the state is rural and, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a third of all counties have communities that are considered food deserts.

The town of Velva relies on its local grocer, Velva Fresh Foods, which has become a key fixture within the community. Recently, the former owner decided to sell the store, and residents became concerned that it would no longer be a locally run business. They also feared that it might close permanently, as the next closest grocery store is more than 25 miles away.

April 7, 2021

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

EDA Investment Supports Scientific Breakthroughs Today, Careers for Tomorrow

In the 2010s, Orange County, California found itself facing a demographic challenge. The county was experiencing a shrinking population in every age group other than seniors, a trendline that stood in contrast to the Golden State as a whole.

March 31, 2021

Infrastructure

EDA Investments Educating the Nurses of Tomorrow

Nurses play a vital role in society, serving as the eyes and ears of our hospitals and health care facilities. Yet even before the coronavirus pandemic put a strain on the healthcare system, much of the nation was already facing a nursing shortage.

March 25, 2021

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

UF Innovate Collaboratory for Women Innovators Helps Florida Woman Empower People of All Ages to Navigate Technology with Ease

Keeping up with technology can be a challenge even for those who use it on a day-to-day basis. Older adults often face additional challenges in a world that is increasingly dependent on new forms of technology.

March 25, 2021

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Highlight: Woman-led EDA University Center Is Making Entrepreneurship Easier in Kansas City

It’s not just the barbecue or the championship-caliber NFL team that Kansas City is known for – the metro area is also recognized as a top city for entrepreneurs. Leading the charge is the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Innovation Center.

March 25, 2021