Rural Development Cooperative Programs
Cooperatives unleash innovation and entrepreneurship, create robust communities by meeting the economic needs of their member-owners and keeping profits local. They fill market gaps in the economy and are a particularly resilient and flexible type of business. Cooperative members own, use, and control their business democratically and can respond flexibly to the ups and downs of the business cycle.
Cooperative Services
Cooperative Services provides technical assistance as well as economic, statistical and historic information relating to cooperatives and the cooperative model. Cooperative Services engages in stakeholder outreach and engagement efforts to promote the model as a solution to meet the needs of rural communities.
Rural Cooperative Development Grants
The Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program improves the economic condition of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Cooperative Development Centers.
Publications for Cooperatives
Cooperative Services provides information and research publications for economic development professionals, trade associations, extension agents, youth groups, and agriculture and business schools through the Library of Cooperative Information.
Interagency Working Group on Cooperative Development
This initiative was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, which mandates that the Agriculture Secretary chair an interagency working group to foster cooperative development and ensure coordination with federal agencies and cooperative organizations.