USDA's Rural Business Cooperative Service has announced that $5.8 million in funding is available through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program, which aims to improve the conditions in high poverty rural communities through cooperative development.
Non-profits and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. Maximum Awards are $200,000. The primary objective of the RCDG program is to improve economic conditions in rural areas by assisting individuals or entities in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Cooperative Development Centers.
Grants are awarded competitively on an annual basis to Rural Cooperative Development Centers who in turn provide technical assistance to individuals and entities. Grant funds may be used to pay for 95 percent of the cost of establishing and operating centers for rural cooperative development, when the applicant is a 1994 Institution, commonly known as Tribal Land Grant Institutions.
The grant requires 25% matching funds. More information is available online at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-cooperative-development-grant-program .
Applications are available at www.grants.gov. Organizations must pre-register prior to sending applications in at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html to ensure applications are accepted.
Applications must be received by June 20, 2016. For more information contact USDA Rural Development Business Programs Director Herb Shedd at (775) 887-1222, Ext. 119.