Rural cooperative development grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services awarded a $195,448 Rural Cooperative Development Grant to The Ohio State University on September 27, 2023. This 1-year project grant funds the university's Cooperative Development Center to provide technical assistance, training, feasibility studies, and business planning services to support the startup, expansion, and operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses in Ohio. The Rural Cooperative Development Grants program aims to improve economic conditions in rural areas by strengthening these types of cooperative enterprises across sectors including agriculture, fishing, utilities, retail, and credit unions. The Ohio State University has a strong track record of delivering a range of goods and services through past federal contracts and grants, including scientific research, education and community programs, and clinical trial coordination.