Rural economic development grant - electric farm bill

The City of Cozad received a $300,000 Project Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Cooperative Services under the Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants program (CFDA 10.854) on July 2, 2025, with a completion date of July 2, 2027. This award supports rural economic development initiatives in Nebraska through a two-year performance period. Under this program structure, the City of Cozad functions as an intermediary utility organization that receives zero-interest financing from USDA and subsequently deploys these funds to ultimate recipients—rural businesses and development projects within its service territory.

The funded activities support rural economic development and job creation through eligible project categories including feasibility studies, business start-up costs, business incubator projects, and other expenses designed to foster rural entrepreneurship. Historically, the City of Cozad has utilized similar federal grant awards for downtown revitalization efforts, community infrastructure improvements, and economic development initiatives that strengthen the rural Nebraska economy. The grant's pass-through mechanism ensures that federal resources reach projects demonstrating clear potential for sustainable employment generation and economic growth within the community's service area.