Disc value-added AG pmdg-mid tier chains

The Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative received a $250,000 Project Grant from the Rural Business Cooperative Services (RBCS) under the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program (CFDA 10.771), awarded on August 25, 2025, with a completion date of August 25, 2027. This award supports the establishment and operation of a cooperative development center focused on value-added agricultural initiatives within mid-tier supply chains in Wisconsin. The funded activities will deliver technical assistance services to rural cooperatives and mutually-owned agricultural businesses, encompassing feasibility studies, business planning, training, and operational guidance to strengthen food systems and support producers in rural areas.

Under this two-year performance period, the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative will leverage the grant to enhance cooperative development capacity and economic conditions in rural Wisconsin. The award aligns with the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program's broader objective of improving economic conditions in rural areas by facilitating the startup, expansion, and operational improvement of rural cooperatives through specialized technical assistance services delivered via established development centers.