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), a non-profit organization based in Eagan, Minnesota. The grant, with a performance period from August 28, 2024, to August 28, 2024, will enable CDS to provide technical assistance, training, feasibility studies, and business planning services to individuals and entities seeking to establish, expand, or enhance rural cooperatives and mutually-owned businesses across various sectors, including agriculture, energy, retail, and credit unions. The organization's work targets multiple objectives, such as job creation, business expansion, energy efficiency improvements, and economic development in rural communities, with a strategic focus on helping cooperative enterprises become sustainable and economically competitive.