A resident of the state of California for 19 years, Rooney says she wanted a change of pace, preferably a slower one.

"We were going 100 miles per hour and then we were going 20 miles per hour."

Moving to California, Missouri allowed her to reconnect with her parents, siblings, and, after she settled in, her children and grandchildren.

"We just wanted a change," Rooney said.  "It was a big change, but it was a good change."

With her new store, Carose, which sells antiques and collectables, opening in the last six months, Rooney says she's finally achieving her dreams.

"It's my independence.  It's my freedom.  It's just something that I've always wanted."

With a new grant being approved to help rejuvenate new businesses and development for California, Rooney says she's excited about the prospects, and not just herself.  Her sister is a hairstylist at Something Sassy, a salon just down the street.  The business owner says the grant will help more than just her family, though.

"It'll help the entire town by bringing in [revenue]," Rooney said.  "We have our small businesses here so people will be able to buy their things locally, find unique things, different things.  They won't have to leave and go to Jeff City or Sedalia or Columbia."

With her new eye for money, Rooney embraces the small town life, and plans to have her say with the new grant.

"I mean, you spend five dollars to drive to Jeff City to buy groceries when you could've just gone to the local grocery store."