New Growth Transit celebrates a remarkable milestone: over 1 million miles of free rides provided to rural Missourians in 2024—equivalent to circling the globe 40 times. This achievement underscores the vital role of our volunteer drivers in connecting residents to essential services.

The Heartland Regional Food Business Center received an incredible 479 applications for the first round of our Business Builder grant, aimed at helping small and midsize food and farm businesses expand and thrive. This strong response highlights the demand for resources that support local food entrepreneurs across our five-state region!

With nearly half of Missouri’s young children living in "child care deserts," a new report from the New Growth Women’s Business Center and University of Missouri Extension, proposes a business-oriented solution: shared services or central office support for small and home-based child care providers.

The Liston Center, a community hub in El Dorado Springs and home to New Growth offices, has installed a generator to keep essential services running during power outages. Funded by a USDA grant and a trivia night fundraiser, future events will continue to support the plan to build a community-serving commercial kitchen.

USDA and the Heartland Regional Food Business Center Make Available Over $3.7 Million to Farm and Food Businesses in First Round of Business Builder Grants. El USDA y el Heartland Regional Food Business Center ponen a disposición de las empresas agrícolas y alimentarias más de 3,7 millones de dólares en la primera ronda de subvenciones para la creación de empresas

Eisenhower Fellowship takes New Growth leader abroad to tour and learn innovative things China is doing to ensure a vibrant food system

Trivia Night at the Liston Center on June 28, themed "Summer Lovin'," saw 12 enthusiastic teams competing in a festive 50s atmosphere, raising over $3,000 for the kitchen renovation.

A $1.25 million Local Food for Schools grant to Missouri from the federal government will flow directly to schools that apply for the opportunity to plan and implement local food purchasing over an 18-month period starting this fall.

Farm to School project reports taste test success with 330 students in four rural west central Missouri school districts during the 2022-2023 school year.

As Missouri gears up to build new businesses for economic innovation, it must increase on-the-ground small business support in rural Missouri. New Growth guest column July 10, 2023–Springfield Business Journal.

This summer New Growth and photojournalist Clayton Steward are working with the support of the Missouri Humanities Council to produce a set of photo stories that capture a day in the life of 14 rural west central Missouri businesses. The objective is to build awareness of the everyday activity and creativity that is alive and well in rural Missouri.

St. Clair County, Missouri, resident Matt Anderson moved his credit score from zero to 700 in less than six months with the help of nonprofit New Growth’s free credit building program.