USDA provides $5 million in grants to foster co-op development in 19 states - Newsline

Rural Cooperatives, Sept-Oct, 2002 by Patrick Duffey

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman awarded $5 million in grants in August to promote cooperative development in 19 states, as part of the Bush administration's ongoing commitment to invest in, and bolster, jobs and economic development in rural America.

"Using cooperative ventures to bring new economic opportunities to rural areas is an important part of creating new jobs in rural America," said Veneman. "These grants will give rural residents the opportunity to expand and improve local businesses and economies."

The cooperative development grant program is administered through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service of USDA Rural Development. The grants were awarded on a competitive basis and are intended to foster rural cooperative development through projects that provide rural residents with education and technical assistance in areas of cooperative start-up, marketing and managing, and other self-help tools.

Grants were awarded to:

ALABAMA-Federation of Southern Cooperatives, $299,365--To provide technical assistance, rural business development support and cooperative business training to cooperatives in the South.

ARKANSAS-Winrock International Institute for Ag Development, $238,681--To expand jobs and income in rural Arkansas through cooperative development.

CALIFORNIA-University of California, $299,530--To provide new and existing cooperative development assistance, and cooperative research and education.

COLORADO-Rocky Mountain Cooperative Development Center, $298,740--To support and strengthen emerging and existing cooperatives throughout the region.

KANSAS-Kansas State University, $300,000--To provide educational and technical assistance in the development of new agricultural cooperatives.

KENTUCKY-The Kentucky Center of Cooperative Development, $269,500--To improve economic conditions in rural Kentucky by promoting new cooperatives and continuing efforts to improve existing farmer cooperatives.

MASSACHUSETTS-Cooperative Development Institute, $297,618--To provide cooperative development activities targeting low-income and under-served communities in the Northeast.

MARYLAND-University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, $289,500--To develop and enhance cooperative organizations, particularly female and minority-owned enterprises.

MINNESOTA-North Country Cooperative Foundation, $294,000--To encourage information and expansion of cooperative housing enterprises that will help rural residents and communities increase opportunities for economic stability and prosperity.

MISSOURI-Family Farm Opportunity Center, $173,385--To develop cooperative activity, which sustains and enhances rural communities.

MISSISSIPPI-Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, $161,667--To provide technical assistance to existing cooperatives and pre-development assistance to start-up groups.

MONTANA-MSU-N/Montana Cooperative Development Center, $291,652--To provide cooperative development, technical assistance, education and applied research in rural Montana.

NORTH DAKOTA-Dakota Cooperative Development Center, $300,000--To provide technical assistance for the development of new-generation cooperatives in North Dakota.

NEBRASKA-Nebraska Cooperative Development Center, $294,979--To provide technical assistance and education for enhancing long-term cooperative development capacity with a sustainable approach.

OHIO-Ohio Cooperative Development Center, $294,976--To provide agriculture producers with information, training and marketing tools, and to assist in economic development and sustainability.

PENNSYLVANIA-Keystone Development Center, $300,000--To provide technical and limited financial assistance in cooperative development in the Mid-Atlantic states.

SOUTH DAKOTA-Value-added Ag. Development Center Inc., $100,000-- To assist in the creation of value-added agriculture cooperative businesses in South Dakota.

TEXAS-The University of Texas-Pan American, $232,460--To promote rural economic development and facilitate the creation and retention of jobs in rural South Texas through the development of rural cooperatives, value-added processing and rural business.

VIRGINIA-Southern States Cooperative Foundation, $299,980--To assist farmers in the traditional, tobacco-dependent regions in developing innovative cooperative enterprises that take advantage of trends in the modern marketplace.