Financing resources for cooperative businesses include grants, loans, guaranteed loans, revolving loan funds, equity capital, and crowd sourcing. Funding can come from Federal agencies, private-public partnerships, lending institutions, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), foundations, and other organizations. If your funding opportunity is not represented here, please contact us at CoopInfo@usda.gov.
USDA Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in partnership with the Cornell Small Farms Program and Rooted have launched the Promise of Urban Agriculture courses to provide critical information for building or supporting successful commercial urban farms.
The courses, now available on the Cornell Small Farms Program website, educate participants through unique video content and materials about topics including, Accessing Urban Land for Farming, Urban Farm Planning and Management, and Sources of Urban Farm Income. Upon completion of these courses, participants will know the important factors involved in building viable urban farms, understand relevant policy and planning tools, be aware of economic opportunities and risks, and distinguish between effective nonprofit and for-profit business structures.
USDA Rural Development - Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant
The Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) with USDA Rural Development is a competitive program provides funds so cooperative development centers and cooperatives apply to assist socially disadvantaged groups to create or assist cooperatives. Eligible applicants include cooperatives and cooperative development centers, please see website and regulations for more information.