Rural cooperative development grants

This federal Project Grant award of $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services provides funding to Western Illinois University under the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program (CFDA 10.771). The grant supports efforts to improve economic conditions in rural areas by assisting in the startup, expansion, and operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses. As a Cooperative Development Center, Western Illinois University will provide technical assistance, training, feasibility studies, business planning, and other services to individuals and entities seeking to establish or enhance rural cooperative enterprises across sectors including agriculture, fishing, utilities, retail, and credit unions. This grant award will fund these services and activities for a one-year period from September 2023 to September 2024.