Rural cooperative development grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services awarded a $200,000 Rural Cooperative Development Grant (CFDA 10.771) to Cooperative Development Services, Inc. (CDS) on Sep 21, 2023. CDS, a non-profit organization, will use the funding to provide technical assistance, training, feasibility studies, and operational support to help establish, expand, and improve rural cooperatives and mutually-owned businesses in the U.S. This grant will enable CDS to facilitate the development of cooperative enterprises across sectors such as agriculture, fishing, utilities, retail, and credit unions, with a focus on assisting minority producers and addressing persistent poverty in rural communities. CDS has previously received awards ranging from $45,815 to $200,000 under this program to deliver similar services and support cooperative business models in states like Wisconsin, Iowa, Virginia, and North Carolina.