Agriculture Under Secretary Lisa Mensah today awarded 30 grants totaling $5.8 million to help rural cooperatives create jobs and support business expansion. In Hawaii, The Kohala Center will receive a $200,000 grant to provide technical assistance to the Rural and Cooperative Business Development Services Center with an anticipated creation of 10 jobs.
"Cooperatives are an essential part of our rural economies. October, as National Cooperative Month, allows us to reflect on these necessary groups,” said Chris Kanazawa, USDA Rural Development State Director for Hawaii and the Western Pacific. "Not only do cooperatives help those directly participating, they enrich local communities through their varied products such as food, utilities and services.”
Projects in 22 states are receiving RCDG funding. The grants, provided through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program, help 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.
Through today’s announcement, USDA is providing grants for 30 projects in 22 states. View the awards announced today. Funding is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of their grant agreement.
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.