Rbdg rural business coop rural enterprise grant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services awarded a $175,172 Rural Business Development Grant (CFDA 10.351) to the Keystone Development Center, a non-profit community development corporation based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The 2-year grant, running from July 31, 2024 to July 31, 2026, will enable Keystone Development Center to provide technical assistance, business development, and economic growth initiatives to support small and emerging private businesses in rural Pennsylvania communities. Key activities include conducting feasibility studies, offering training, and delivering technical assistance to groups organizing cooperatives and mutually-owned businesses, with a focus on minority producers and strengthening agricultural markets. The grant funding will allow Keystone Development Center to assess local food system expansion, support cooperative business development, and create economic opportunities through collaborative business models in underserved rural areas across the state.