Rural Leader Magazine April 2023

APRIL 2023

Cover Story Private Grant Funding Makes Big Impacts in Small Towns, pg. 22 GetRuralLeaderMag.com |APRIL 2023 1

Contents Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com

About Us

Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad.

Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.—

7 A Test To His Testimony: Thomas’ Multiple Myeloma Story 11 Roofing could be your key to a thriving career in 2023 in tech careers 14 How diverse businesses can find equitable access to funding 17 How Business Leaders Can Prepare for a Possible Recession this Year

19 Springing into Your Health 21 Five Ways to Protect Yourself from Romance Scams COVER STORY 22 Private Grant Funding Makes Big Impacts in Small Towns 24 From satellite to streaming: 5 tech trends to watch

Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent.

Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermag.com Contact Us info@ruralleadermag.com editor@ruralleadermag.com ruralleadermagazine@gmail.com

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Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@RuralLeaderMag.com—

Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue.

As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support!

Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag

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A Test To His Testimony: Thomas’ Multiple Myeloma Story Sponsored by GSK - Thomas, an African American man, shares his multiple myeloma story: from diagnosis at a young age to continued treatment to his role in clinical trials and as an advocate. This is his personal story, and others may be different.

Thomas is a paid spokesperson for GSK. Thomas’ story: At 34 years old, Thomas’ world changed forever. As the youngest of 11 siblings and father to 3 young children at the time, he was busy staying active in the gym, working and spending time with loved ones. While on a family vacation, a radiating pain from his shoulder led him down a path he never could have imagined for himself - he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Upon arriving home from his family vacation, Thomas immediately saw his family physician for his shoulder pain and was diagnosed with bursitis in his shoulder. Bursitis is the painful swelling of the fluid-filled pads that cushion the joints. The diagnosis didn’t sit right with him - he knew there was more going on with his body. He persisted and contacted a sports medicine specialist, underwent tests and learned that his pain was caused by cancerous plasma cells in his shoulder blades, known as plasmacytoma.

After being referred to an oncologist and undergoing initial radiation treatment, Thomas noticed the pain returning, this time in his lower back. It was then that he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and his journey with continued treatment and advocacy began.

Navigating the trials and tribulations of multiple myeloma: Multiple myeloma is a disease that starts in the plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally fights infections. It is the second most common blood cancer in the US[i] with more than 34,000 people estimated to be diagnosed this year.[ii] This type of cancer is generally considered treatable, but not curable.[i] African Americans are disproportionately affected by multiple myeloma and are two to three times as likely to be diagnosed when compared with non-Hispanic Whites.[iii] When Thomas was first diagnosed, he was scared about what this diagnosis meant for his future, but he refused to become a statistic. Following his initial radiation treatment for multiple myeloma, he underwent an autologous stem cell transplant - a standard

treatment option for newly diagnosed patients. An autologous stem cell transplant removes the patient’s own stem cells from the bone marrow or blood where they are returned following chemotherapy and sometimes radiation.[iv] After just two months, he relapsed, meaning his disease returned.

Unfortunately, for multiple myeloma patients this is not uncommon, even after responding positively to treatment. For many, there’s also the possibility that their disease stops responding to a treatment, which is known as refractory multiple myeloma.

Still hopeful, Thomas made the decision to enroll in two clinical trials. He realized that participation in clinical trials wasn’t just important for him - it was for all of the people who would be diagnosed after him, particularly for those within the African American community, as this group is historically underrepresented in clinical trials.[v] During the clinical trials, Thomas received allogenic stem cell transplants, meaning the patient receives stem cells from another person, who is closely matched to the patient’s cell type, which may be better at fighting the cancer.[iv] In Thomas’ case, he received donor stem cells from his brother.

Thomas understood the importance of equitable representation and a care team who could help him seek out available clinical trials. He noted that while many don’t realize it, participation in clinical trials isn’t just for those who have had a failed treatment some trials exist to see how long treatment can work or to help determine the right dose of a drug.

Strength in numbers. Thomas is incredibly open about the impact of his care team on his experience with multiple myeloma. He has a very close relationship with his oncologist who specializes in hematologic conditions, such as multiple myeloma.

When he was first diagnosed, her involvement in the International Myeloma Working Group, an organization that conducts research to improve outcomes for myeloma patients and provides consensus guidelines for the global community, allowed Thomas to access resources and information that he may not have had otherwise. He also gives credit to his oncology nurses, who were an integral part of his day-to-day treatment and were there when he needed more support and answers to questions regarding his diagnosis and treatment.

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Beyond his core medical team, Thomas has access to a social worker who helps him make sure that he is not only taking care of his physical health, but his mental health too. His social worker has been an important resource for Thomas, especially when he started his work as an advocate, speaking at events and meeting other patients like him through multiple myeloma support groups.

Thomas also leans on his strong circle of friends and family who he can rely on, vent to and count on to get him out of “the myeloma universe.” For him, this is just as important as the medical interventions.

A message for his community: As a Black man who was diagnosed at a young age, it has been especially important for Thomas to connect with his community and share information about multiple myeloma and the early signs and symptoms to look out for. African Americans have an earlier onset of diagnosis, which was the case for Thomas, and tend to experience conditions that could be an indicator of the disease, such as hypertension or high blood pressure.[vi] Some other common symptoms of the disease include bone pain (most often in the back, hips and skull), high blood levels of calcium and low blood counts, which can lead to other symptoms such as anemia.[vii] Although it can sometimes feel uncomfortable, Thomas encourages those in his community to have open conversations with their loved ones to understand their health history and genetic risk. Learning the signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma, as well as potential risk factors, can help with early detection and determining how best to treat it.

In his own words, Thomas’ experience with multiple myeloma was “another test to his testimony.”

Despite his diagnosis testing his strength and resiliency, both physically and mentally, Thomas’ advocacy work has allowed him to bring his joy to others in ways he never imagined. He founded the Triangle Area Support Group, a group focused on supporting and educating patients and their loved ones faced with multiple myeloma. He is grateful for the opportunity to be an advocate for those in the multiple myeloma community and hopes that his story inspires and empowers people to learn more about multiple

myeloma, including their risk factors, treatment options and resources.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, reach out to organizations such as International Myeloma Foundation, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, HealthTree Foundation, or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to find a support group in your area. You can learn more about multiple myeloma and how GSK is working to get ahead of the disease for patients here.— Trademarks are property of their respective owners. ©2023 GSK or licensor. MMUCOCO230001 March 2023 Produced in USA. i Kazandjian D. Seminars in Oncology.

2016;43(6):676-681. ii American Cancer Society. Cancer facts & figures 2023. Accessed February 22, 2023. https://www. cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancerfacts-figures/2023-cancer-facts-figures.html iii Dong J, et al. Blood Cancer Journal. 2022;12(2). iv Cancer.org. Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Myeloma. Published 2017. Accessed February 22, 2023. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/ treating/stem-cell-transplant.html v Awidi M, et al. JCO Oncology Practice.

2021;17(5):265-271. vi Cancer.org. Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans. Accessed February 22, 2023. https:// www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/cancer-facts-figures-for-african-americans.html vii Cancer.org. Signs and Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma. Published 2018. Accessed February 22, 2023. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/ detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html

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COVER STORY

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Roofing Could be Your Key to a Thriving Career in 2023 The last few years have been a rollercoaster for workers in the U.S. The country saw its greatest job loss since the Great Depression and almost a year later faced the challenge of not having enough workers to fill job openings. It’s an experience experts say has changed the American workforce and workers.

As a result, 45% of employers are shifting their hiring practices and focusing more on skills and competencies versus degrees. So what jobs can help build the right kind of skills that will open more doors? Try roofing.

Whether the interest is in finding a side hustle, a fresh start or learning about different career paths, roofing helps build skills that translate across industries and sectors from building and construction to manufacturing, human resources, sales and more.

From side hustle to business owner: Erasmo “Mitos” Fuentes started his career as a teacher and got into roofing as a way to bring in extra money - but after his first day on a roof, he knew he could grow it into a full-time job. He made his way up from roofer to business owner and now works for the largest roofing manufacturer in North America.

It all started when Fuentes was purchasing roofing materials and met a representative from a manufacturer whose expertise helped open new doors. “He explained the differences between shingles without dismissing any brands; he was just there to help me,” said Fuentes, who found a mentor in his fellow roofing professional as he built his business.

Passionate about sharing his knowledge with others, Fuentes later became a trainer at GAF’s Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence (CARE) where he teaches courses in Spanish to roofing contractors. He and other industry experts guide more than 364,000 professionals across North America, teaching them everything in roofing - from installation to sales techniques. The courses are provided in both English and Spanish and range from live, hands-on training in centers across the country, in locations such as Minneapolis, MN, Michigan City, IN, Dallas, TX, Parsippany, NJ and more, to virtual seminars that cover the industry’s best practices and trends.

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others through roofing. A teacher, roofer, business owner and CARE trainer, he represents the roofing community’s passion for lifting others up.

No formal education? No problem, in roofing it’s all about the training!

Roofers are among the construction industry’s unsung heroes - they help families and communities protect what matters most, starting with the roof over their head. There’s a need for skilled roofers and demand for 19,000 new jobs is expected by 2028.

Roofing is a profession with few barriers - no degree or schooling required and national programs like GAF Roofing Academy help people of all backgrounds get into the field. The free course combines classroom and on-the-roof training in residential, commercial and solar roofing, led by expert instructors that prepare students for an entry-level position.

After completing the program, graduates have access to job opportunities from thousands of certified contractors in the company’s network nationwide.

The program has trained over 2,000 graduates to date and more than 20 trainings are expected across the country in 2023 from Baltimore, MD, to Kansas City, MO, and beyond.

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Roofing teaches you skills in construction - and beyond. The roofing industry opens the door to multiple career paths - some don’t even require you to get up on a roof every day. Kelvin Thomas, for example, got his start at a GAF manufacturing facility in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, AL. He has enjoyed a 44year career in roofing operations and held 16 different positions that helped expose him to opportunities in manufacturing, maintenance, quality, supply chain and human resources in multiple cities.

“Sometimes our qualifications don’t check all the boxes, but if you keep trying and have faith in yourself, someone will be willing to take a chance on you,” explains Thomas.

Roofing is an often-overlooked opportunity for anyone interested in starting a career with endless opportunities for professional and personal growth.

It’s also a chance to make a meaningful impact on communities, helping neighbors to protect their homes and build resilience that can have a lasting impact on their families and lives.

More information about roofing programs and opportunities can be found at www.gaf.com/LearnToRoof.—

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How diverse businesses can find equitable access to funding In the U.S., diverse entrepreneurs launch new businesses at a faster pace than any other group, serving as an important source of jobs and opportunity in their communities. Every year, minority-owned employer firms generate $1.48 trillion for the U.S. economy. They’re also responsible for 9.43 million jobs, according to the Minority Business Development Agency.

Despite the positive contributions they provide, diverse-owned business ventures often struggle to survive and grow in part because they can’t easily access the necessary bank loans and other funding.

When seeking credit, non-diverse businesses receive all the money they request about 35% of the time. That success rate is roughly double what Asian small businesses (15%), Black-owned businesses (16%) and Hispanic-owned companies (19%) experience, according to the Federal Reserve’s Small Business Credit Survey.

It’s a threat to the larger economy. If diverse businesses can’t access working capital, it could stifle an important source of jobs, innovation and growth and delay wealth creation for diverse businesses.

The roots of the problem: Why is this happening?

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First, there is the nation’s racial wealth gap. In 2019, white Americans had average per capita wealth of $383,093 compared with $60,126 for Black Americans, the Minneapolis Fed reported. When Black entrepreneurs open businesses of their own, they have fewer financial resources to draw on.

Many diverse businesses also find themselves held back by the outdated nature of business lending.

Some banks simply won’t lend to younger companies unless they can pass strict guidelines, effectively making it impossible for small, newer businesses to qualify.

Unable to access capital through a business loan, diverse entrepreneurs try other, less affordable options like merchant cash advances or small business loans - often at predatory rates.

Other options for funding diverse businesses: Fortunately, there are other, more inclusive options. For example, C2FO - the world’s largest online platform for working capital - allows suppliers to receive early payment on approved invoices in exchange for giving a small discount to their customer. Some large enterprises have created special programs on the C2FO platform where they agree to pay diverse suppliers at a preferential rate.

Last year, C2FO’s platform delivered over $4.7 billion in payments to diverse-owned companies without mounds of paperwork or any qualification requirements outside of being in the C2FO network.

C2FO and the Schultz Family Foundation, which was created by Sheri Schultz and Starbucks cofounder and current CEO Howard Schultz, are partnering to unlock $100 million in loans for small and diverse businesses. The joint initiative aims to accelerate the growth of emerging, high-potential businesses to encourage job creation, support the building of wealth in historically marginalized communities and fuel a more inclusive economy.

Unlike traditional bank loans that focus on limiting risk, loans given to qualified businesses under

this partnership are based on sales growth and the company’s trajectory, not traditional hard requirements like substantial profit and multiple years in business. Interested businesses can learn more at http://explore.c2fo.com/diversebusinesscapital. This new approach to lending will open doors to many businesses that have been left behind by the established banking system.—

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How Business Leaders Can Prepare for a Possible Recession this Year

By John Simmons, Head of Middle Market Banking & Specialized Industries, JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking & Ben Walter, CEO, Chase Business Banking No matter their size, location or industry, businesses across the country have been hit by inflation in the last year, forcing leaders to use a variety of creative strategies to combat rising costs. While these inflationary pressures show some signs of easing, business leaders’ sentiment around recession expectations raises important questions for businesses on whether they’re prepared for the next big economic challenge.

In the JPMorgan Chase 2023 Business Leaders Outlook survey, we uncovered just how widespread inflation’s impact has been for business owners nationwide and how it and other pressures have contributed to a challenging business outlook. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of small (94%) and midsize (91%) businesses are experiencing pricing pressures that are affecting their bottom line, while the majority of small (61%) and midsize (65%) business leaders anticipate a recession some time in 2023.

The good news is that despite these expectations, most midsize (66%) and small business (72%) leaders remain upbeat about their own company’s performance, and are focused on growth, hiring plans and other elements within their control. We are encouraged by the optimism and resilience of business leaders after a tough few years, and we know that time and again their mettle has delivered the economy through lean times to propel our economy and communities forward.

As we talk with business leaders about the challenges ahead, there are three main approaches they should consider this year in their preparations for the next economic cycle: 1. Consider Non-Traditional Strategies to Combat Inflation: Small and midsize businesses have had to find ways to meet challenges brought by inflation.

Traditional responses, such as raising prices on products and services, have been augmented by some non-traditional strategies. For example, nearly half of midsize businesses have made changes to their purchasing habits, including strategic stockpiling, and more than one-third have turned to automation.

Among small businesses, more than half have said honest and transparent communication with customers is a top tactic for coping with inflation. Because consumers still demonstrate a willingness to shop

local, honesty and transparency can help strike the right tone to balance price increases with customer loyalty.

2. Invest in Prospective and Current Employees The tight U.S. job market presents a challenge for small and midsize businesses; however, economic data show the worst may be behind them. More than half of small business leaders (55%) anticipate hiring full- and part-time staff and 50% of midsize business leaders expect to increase headcount in the next 12 months.

Employee retention and development - always important priorities for business owners - are emerging as even more important in the current economic environment. In fact, more than half (55%) of small business leaders cited retaining top employees as a critical factor for business survival, especially because they operate with less slack from the start.

Likewise, nearly half (43%) of midsize businesses plan to invest in talent development by offering upskilling and training opportunities that increase productivity, improve the quality of work and enhance problem-solving abilities. These programs are hugely important for small and midsize businesses looking to improve retention, limit turnover, boost morale and attract new talent.

3. Optimize Working Capital: Working capital is a key indicator of small and midsize businesses’ financial health, and maintaining it during times of economic volatility is important for long-term prospects.

Despite a tough year, the majority of small (69%) and midsize (63%) businesses expect increased revenue and sales in the year ahead, making it important for them to have a corresponding capital plan.

Business leaders are optimizing working capital to finance inventory and accounts receivable through supply chain finance, which helps them move to extended payment terms with suppliers including the option to get paid earlier in their working capital cycle, and dynamic discounting, which enables owners to receive discounted prices in exchange for paying vendors early. They are also investing heavily in inventory management, reworking current debt and securing working capital financing to maintain and even grow their balance sheets.

To learn more about how JPMorgan Chase is helping business leaders build for the future, view the full Business Leaders Outlook survey results for small and midsize businesses.

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Springing into Your Health Of all the things to love about spring - coming out of winter blues, seeing trees start to bud and flowers begin to bloom - another one is how it can help us re-focus on our health.

Between the ability to spend stretches of time outside again, and a renewed sense of purpose as the days start to get longer, spring is the perfect time to reassess our health goals and take stock of how we’ve been doing since the start of the new year.

One of the ways you can reprioritize your health is getting vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia. To help you understand your risk, Pfizer is sharing important information about pneumococcal pneumonia and the importance of vaccination.

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can disrupt your life for weeks and can even put you in the hospital or be life-threatening. If you’re 65 or older, or 19 or older with certain underlying medical conditions, like asthma, diabetes or chronic heart disease, you’re at

increased risk and vaccination is one of the ways to help protect your health.

People often think that pneumococcal pneumonia can only be caught in the winter or during flu season, but it can strike any time of year. However, vaccination is available all year round, so spring is the perfect time to get vaccinated as you refocus on your health.

Even if you’ve already been vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia previously, your healthcare provider may recommend another pneumococcal vaccine for additional protection.

Pneumococcal pneumonia can strike at any time of year, so don’t wait to ask your doctor or pharmacist about pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination and visit knowpneumonia.com to learn more.— ***Brought to you by Pfizer.***

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Five Ways to Protect Yourself from Romance Scams Online dating and social media have made it easier than ever before to find your special someone. However, scammers are always ready to take advantage of well-meaning singles looking for love. Using the anonymity of the web, these con artists create compelling stories and fake identities to trick you into falling in love with someone who doesn’t exist.

However, you don’t have to be a victim of a romance scam. To help you stay safe while searching for a romantic partner, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has offered the following five safety tips.

1. Don’t ignore the red flags: When you fall for someone, it’s easy to ignore warning signs that they may not be who they claim to be. When dating online, watch out for the following red flags:

3. Research profile details: Look for inconsistencies in their profile and the information they share. Do a quick internet search for your would-be lover’s name and the town where they claim to live. For photos, you can use an image search to verify their profile photos aren’t stolen from someone else’s account.

Because people who conduct online impostor scams frequently spin the same lines or tell the same backstory, an internet search can be especially helpful. If an online love interest makes declarations of undying devotion and sends love poems, search for these lines online and see where they’ve been used before.

4. Ask for proof. A true, legitimate love interest will understand if you ask for proof that they’re real and not misrepresenting themselves. One way you * Their name and the name in their email address can protect yourself is to request a customized photo. don’t match.

Ask them to hold today’s newspaper or a book you * Their messages to you have obvious spelling and have both read. grammar errors.

If they can’t or won’t provide proof, or if your pre* Their online profile suddenly disappears from the vious search results indicate something suspicious, dating site. it’s time to voice your suspicions and lay the evidence * They pledge their love way too quickly. on the table. When confronted with your evidence, * They ask you to send or receive money and/or they may admit they are a scammer but claim they’ve packages. “fallen in love for real.” While you may be tempted * They need money right away due to a medical or to believe them, this is just another heavily recycled family emergency. tactic. * They need a visa or plane tickets.

5. Keep both feet firmly planted in reality. Keep an * They claim a business opportunity arose and ask eye out for signs that the relationship is moving in you to wire a loan. a direction that wouldn’t play out if you met in real If you spot any of these red flags, cease contact im- life. They may push the relationship to develop very mediately, as difficult as it may be. Block any attempts quickly and use canned expressions and phrases. For to resume contact via email, text or phone. example, they may call you pet names like “my love” 2. Never send money to someone you met online. or “my darling” early on. Or, they may say, “My child Keep all personal and financial information private is already calling you ‘mom’ or ‘dad.’” and protected until you are certain your online roLet your online romance develop naturally like it mantic interest can be trusted. would in person. Push back on any attempts by the Don’t lend money, credit card information or other person to move too quickly. personal possessions to any stranger you meet on the Keep yourself safe while searching for love. Using internet. Do more research before moving forward these five tips, you can quickly identify scammers with any financial decision. Be alert if the person ro- and catfish and focus on building connections with mancing you creates a sense of urgency to send them real people. money.

To learn more and report online romance scams, If your bank or credit accounts are used, contact visit USPIS.gov.— the bank, credit provider and the Social Security Administration. Get a free copy of your credit report and look for accounts you don’t recognize. Put a credit alert or freeze on your accounts.

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COVER STORY

Private Grant Funding Makes Big Impacts in Small Towns In the wake of many global changes post-pandemic, most communities are facing changed populations and economies and new, unexpected challenges.

Funding gaps have put important community projects on hold and nonprofits struggle to balance financial strain while demand grows. There’s no easy solution, but some are finding relief from unexpected sources - private companies dedicated to investing in America.

Twofold challenges. The pandemic brought sudden change to communities of all sizes across the country.

Hardest-hit were small and rural communities but all experienced shifted budgets to combat COVID-19 22

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and related issues. Meanwhile, more people decided to leave cities for suburbs and rural areas due to the growth in remote work, increasing populations and demand on local resources.

At the same time, communities continue to be tasked with doing more with less and are striving to find innovative ways to bridge funding gaps so their residents - both new and existing - can thrive. Fortunately, some private companies with ties to rural communities are stepping up and showing they care about more than business by helping fund a variety of needs.

“Our local Kubota dealers are uniquely connect-

ed to the communities they serve and are keenly aware of local challenges people face. They aren’t just serving customers, they are helping friends, family and neighbors. It’s important for us to bridge funding and resources to our local dealers so they can make a difference in their community in ways that matter most,” said Todd Stucke, Kubota North America, and Kubota Tractor Corporation’s Senior Vice President.

Bridging funding gaps. Projects put on hold.

Programs cut indefinitely. Nonprofit organizations continue to face increased demand without increased budget as a result of funding gaps.

One example of a rural organization making a difference despite challenges is Homesteads for Hope, a 55-acre community farm located along the Historic Erie Canal in Rochester, New York. The nonprofit is an inclusive community farm for individuals with and without disabilities to learn, work, live and grow in nature’s classroom.

While many nonprofits in the special needs community did not survive the pandemic, Homesteads grew over the last few years and needed to take in people who had nowhere else to go. This growth required increased funding for expansion and the organization decided to look at financial awards from private national companies with local relationships.

Funding from unlikely sources. That’s right, private companies are coming to the rescue for many in the form of private grants and charitable giving.

Homesteads for Hope, for example, applied for the 2022 Kubota Hometown Proudâ„¢ grant and received $100,000 in funding which will be used to expand their Social Garden Program for those with more challenging needs and mobility-based disabilities; double their 80-plot community garden and the program’s impact; and renovate the estate home with new doors and windows to weatherproof the main program spaces for year-round use.

This project was also awarded the 2022 Kubota Community Choice Award, which is an additional grant that will enable the organization to finish

the renovation of their 18th century historic barns.

Together, the funding from Kubota will allow Homesteads to triple the number of people they serve and move closer toward their goal of creating an inclusive housing village, which will give 250-300 people of all abilities a place to call home. So, even though some of the communities they help might be “small,” there is nothing small about the impact of these private grants.

Continue the momentum in 2023. Need continues to grow in many rural communities, and private companies like Kubota can use their local ties to make a big impact and strengthen the fabric that makes small towns and rural counties so special. In fact, the company recently announced the third year of the Kubota Hometown Proud community grant program, which invests five $100,000 grants (with the Community Choice Award, a total of $600,000) to help local organizations make an impact in their own communities and not only survive but thrive.

“We are grateful for the important part our iconic Kubota equipment plays in farming and food production, in building and maintaining our communities, and in enhancing our overall way of life,” said Stucke. “We continue to build out our network, invest in our dealers, equipment and our employees, while also giving back to America’s small towns to share our thanks for allowing us to be part of our customers’ lives, doing more to grow together for today and well beyond.”— NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years and older. Void where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes begins on or about 12:00 AM CT on March 1, 2023, and ends at 11:59 PM CT on September 6, 2023. For Official Rules visit KubotaHometownProud.com.

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From Satellite to Streaming: Five Tech Trends to Watch It seems like every day we hear about a new technology that will improve some part of our lives - from AI at work to smart devices at home to cars that remind us to stay in our lanes. As technology advances, many of these innovations are becoming more mainstream and accessible - helping to improve our lives, our work and our connections to each other.

From new satellite technologies to enhancements in video streaming, here are five tech trends to watch.

AI keeps advancing. Artificial intelligence (AI) may sound like something out of science fiction, but you’ve probably already encountered it. If you’ve asked your phone a question (and it answered) or chatted with a customer service agent on a website, you have actually used AI. Recently, tools like ChatGPT - an AI engine that anyone with a computer can try - have gained popularity for their remarkable accuracy in answering questions and offering up surprisingly natural information. As AI becomes more ubiquitous, it will change the way we work and interact with each other. Moving forward, look for AI to become more integrated into the software you use at work.

Augmented reality gets real. You’ve probably heard about the “metaverse.” Although it sounds like a cartoon universe, the metaverse is real in that it’s a digital world where people communicate using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Some predict the metaverse will evolve to become the next iteration of the internet. While the metaverse is likely years away from showing up in every living room, some of its features, like AR and VR, are growing more common for entertainment, education and training. For example, National 4-H, America’s largest youth development organization, is using augmented reality to help make complex topics like satellite technology more fun and engaging, as in this activity answering the question, “How Does Satellite Internet Work?” presented by HughesNet. Streaming services go mainstream. People everywhere have become dependent on streaming video services - whether subscription-based or free. In fact, up to 80% of all internet traffic is video! While this

appetite shows no sign of slowing in 2023, market dynamics could change how streaming services serve up video content to consumers. With some introducing advertising into their content and others restricting password sharing, consumers should be on the lookout for changes to their subscription services. In 2023, many viewers will likely return to traditional services like cable TV. Rural America gets more options for high-speed internet. For decades, rural America has relied on a host of options to get connected to the internet, including DSL, fixed wireless and satellite internet.

Thanks to new innovations, these services are getting better - and one is poised to change how communities beyond the reach of fiber access high-speed internet. New multipath technologies like HughesNet Fusion Plans combine satellite and wireless technologies to deliver a high-speed, reliable internet experience with reduced latency. The plans use the best connection for online activities at any given time to deliver a fast and more responsive internet experience. Equipped with more data than ever, expect multipath offerings like HughesNet Fusion Plans to grow in popularity in 2023.

Consumers get serious about cybersecurity. Nowadays, almost every aspect of our lives can be found online. From banking, to shopping, social media and work, our online footprints are larger than ever. Not surprisingly, so is the threat of cybercrime. Everyone must beware of Internet fraud, identity theft and tactics like “phishing” - where cybercriminals send emails designed to trick us into sharing personal or financial information. But with the help of new tools and technologies, such as password managers and multi-factor authentication, we can better protect ourselves from bad actors online.

From AI to AR, new technologies are improving our lives in ways we never could have imagined. Just as technology evolves, so will the ways we work and interact and collaborate with each other.—

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RuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2023