USDA Rural Development has awarded the University of Nebraska-Board of Regents with a Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) of $200,000 to provide technical assistance and education to new and existing cooperative enterprises including some “Main Street” businesses.
Through the University of Nebraska Cooperative Development Center (NCDC), RCDG funds have been used to assist eight rural communities over the past two years to keep their grocery stores open. Technical assistance and education for the development of cooperatively owned businesses has been given which includes board of director training to sustain and move coops forward into the future. These strategies and others will be continued with the grant funding.
Jim Crandall, cooperative business development specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska Cooperative Development Center said, “We are excited and appreciative to receive a USDA Rural Development RCDG grant again for next year. The grant will enable us to continue to foster the growth and development of cooperatively owned businesses in rural Nebraska.”
Funds provided through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program, helps fund non-profit groups, such as rural cooperative development centers and higher education institutions.
Development Centers can use RCDG funds for feasibility studies, strategic planning, leadership and operations training, and business plan development. As part of this grant program, recipients are required to contribute matching funds that equal 25 percent of total project costs.
Since the start of the Obama Administration, USDA has funded 230 cooperative grants for $44.4 million to support projects in 39 states. This funding has benefited more than 2,600 businesses. Funding is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of their grant agreement.
For additional information on the RCDG program in Nebraska contact Business Programs Specialist Marla Marx at 308-632-2195 ext. 1132 or marla.marx@ne.usda.gov.
Since the start of the Obama Administration, USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service has helped 85,000 rural businesses create jobs and economic opportunity.
President Obama’s historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger. Under his leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.