A statewide coalition is bringing together leaders from healthcare, agriculture, food access, and community development is taking shape to help Missouri improve health outcomes while creating new economic opportunities for Missouri farmers and food businesses.

New Growth Transit is expanding its volunteer driver transportation service to Pettis County, providing residents with free rides to health care appointments thanks to Healthy Blue Missouri. Volunteers are needed!

New to Lamar, but an expansion for James, this salon owner was supported by the New Growth Women's Business Center and a microloan to expand and serve an additional community.

Running a child care program means making countless business decisions, but finding time to work on your business can be one of the biggest challenges of all. The new Child Care Business Accelerator helps Missouri child care owners and directors save time, strengthen their businesses, and focus on the work they love most—caring for children.

After retiring from a 29-year career in healthcare, she thought she'd seen the challenges people face. Then she became a volunteer driver for New Growth Transit and discovered an invisible reality across rural Missouri.

Though appropriations for Missouri's Volunteer Driver Network were 57% of last year's, the state's newly approved FY2027 budget is investing in New Growth Transit, recognizing a transportation model that has served rural communities for six years. Yet, support is needed.

What if more of our children and grandchildren had the opportunity to build their futures close to the places they call home? As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, it's a chance to reflect on how investing in rural communities today can help make that future possible.

Living with low vision means Frankie can no longer drive himself where he needs to go. His story shows how a volunteer driver provides more than a ride—offering the support, flexibility, and connection that help make each trip possible.

Application for Harvest to Market grants up to $25,000 are now open through August for small farm and food business funding for local food entrepreneurs from rural Kansas and western Missouri. Submission deadline is by noon on August 31, 2026.

Running a child care program means balancing care for children with the daily demands of running a business. A new support program from the New Growth Women’s Business Center aims to help rural Missouri child care programs save time, strengthen operations, and connect with practical tools and resources.

Richard discovered that helping others through volunteer driving didn’t only help rural riders get where they needed to go. It also helped him find connection and healing.

Does the mileage reimbursement actual cover the cost of driving? See how the numbers add up, but also how the experience adds up to so much more.