USDA Announces Rural Economic Development Grants

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2009 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that 28 organizations in 21 states have been selected to receive $4.8 million in grants to spur economic development and create jobs in rural communities. This announcement comes as part of the ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative, a USDA-wide collaboration that will connect people more closely with the farmers who supply their food and increase the production, marketing and consumption of fresh, nutritious food that is grown locally in a sustainable manner.

“The cooperative business model continues to be a successful in creating wealth in rural communities and can also play an important role in strengthening our food systems,” Merrigan said. “USDA is proud to be a partner in the effort to bolster these cooperatives and help them increase the value and appeal of the products and services they deliver.”

The rest of the USDA press release can be viewed at the USDA website.

Fifteen CooperationWorks! members were recipients of these grants, totalling $2,926,521. Recipients include:

• California Center for Cooperative Development
• Common Enterprise Development Corporation
• Cooperative Development Institute
• Cooperative Development Services
• Indiana Cooperative Development Center
• Iowa Alliance for Cooperative Business Development, Iowa State University
• Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development
• Keystone Development Center
• National Network of Forest Practitioners
• Nebraska Cooperative Development Center, Univeristy of Nebraska
• North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives
• Northwest Cooperative Development Center
• Ohio Cooperative Development Center, Ohio State University
• Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Cooperative Development Center
• South Dakota Value-Added Agriculture Development Center