![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.510416666666667in"
height="1.457638888888889in"}

Release No. 0354.02

> Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623
>
> Taylor Oldroyd 202-720-1019

\$5 MILLION IN RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TO FOSTER ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN 19 STATES

WASHINGTON, August 26, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman
announced today \$5 million in economic development to strengthen rural
communities in 19 states, as part of the Bush Administration's ongoing
commitment to invest and bolster programs for rural America. The funding
will assist cooperatives in facilitating the retention of rural jobs
through the development of cooperatives in rural areas.

"Utilizing cooperative ventures to bring new economic opportunities to
rural areas is an important part of creating new jobs in rural America,"
said Veneman. "These grants will give rural residents the opportunity to
expand and improve local businesses and economies."

The [cooperative development
grant](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg.htm) program is
administered through USDA Rural Development Rural Business-Cooperative
Service. The grants were awarded on a competitive basis and are intended
to foster rural cooperative development through projects that provide
rural residents with education and technical assistance in areas of
cooperative startup, marketing and managing, and other self-help tools.

Recipient states and the grant amounts are the following:

**Alabama** - \$299,365

**Arkansas** - \$238,681

**California** - \$299,530

**Colorado** - \$298,740

**Kansas** - \$300,000

**Kentucky** - \$269,500

**Massachusetts** - \$297,618

**Maryland** - \$289,500

**Minnesota** - \$294,000

**Missouri** - \$173,385

**Mississippi** - \$161,667

**Montana** - \$291,652

**North Dakota** - \$300,000

**Nebraska** - \$294,979

**Ohio** - \$294,976

**Pennsylvania** - \$300,000

**South Dakota** - \$100,000

**Texas** - \$232,460

**Virginia** - \$299,980

> USDA Rural Development serves as the lead Federal entity for rural
> development needs and administers financial and technical assistance
> through three agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural
> Business-Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service. Further
> information on USDA Rural Development can be obtained by contacting
> any USDA Service Center or by visiting USDA\'s web site at
> <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/>.

\#

### Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program FY 2002

## ALABAMA - Federation of Southern Cooperatives - \$299,365 - Purpose: To provide technical assistance, rural business development support, and cooperative business training to cooperatives in the South.

**ARKANSAS - Winrock International Institute for Ag. Development -
\$238,681 -** Purpose: To expand jobs and income in rural Arkansas
through cooperative development.

**CALIFORNIA - University of California - \$299,530 -** Purpose: To
provide new and existing cooperative development assistance, and
cooperative research and education.

**COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Cooperative Development Center- \$298,740
-** Purpose: To support and strengthen emerging and existing
cooperatives throughout the region.

**KANSAS - Kansas State University - \$300,000 -** Purpose: To provide
educational and technical assistance in the development of new
agricultural cooperatives.

**KENTUCKY - The Kentucky Center of Cooperative Development - \$269,500
-** Purpose: To improve economic conditions of rural Kentucky by
promoting new cooperatives and continuing efforts to improve existing
farmer cooperatives.

**MASSACHUSETTS - Cooperative Development Institute - \$297,618 -**
Purpose: To provide cooperative development activities to low-income and
underserved communities in the Northeast.

**MARYLAND - University of Maryland - Eastern Shore - \$289,500 -**
Purpose: To develop and enhance cooperative organizations, particularly
female and minority-owned enterprises.

**MINNESOTA - North Country Cooperative Foundation - \$294,000 -**
Purpose: To encourage information and expansion of cooperative housing
enterprises that will help rural residents and communities increase
opportunities for economic stability and prosperity.

**MISSOURI - Family Farm Opportunity Center - \$173,385 -** Purpose: To
develop cooperative activity, which sustains and enhances rural
communities.

**MISSISSIPPI - Mississippi Association of Cooperatives - \$161,667 -**
Purpose: To provide technical assistance to existing cooperative and
pre-development assistance to start-up groups.

**MONTANA - MSU-N/Montana Cooperative Development Center - \$291,652 -**
Purpose: To provide cooperative development, technical assistance,
education, and applied research in rural Montana.

**NORTH DAKOTA -- Dakotas Cooperative Development Center - \$300,000 -**
Purpose: To provide technical assistance for the development of new
generation cooperatives in North Dakota.

**NEBRASKA - Nebraska Cooperative Development Center - \$294,979 -**
Purpose: To provide technical assistance and education for enhancing
long-term cooperative development capacity with a sustainable approach.

**OHIO - Ohio Cooperative Development Center - \$294,976 -** Purpose: To
provide agriculture producers with information, training, and marketing
tools, and to assist in economic development and sustainability in the
community.

**PENNSYLVANIA - Keystone Development Center - \$300,000 -** Purpose: To
provide technical and limited financial assistance in cooperative
development in the Mid-Atlantic states.

# **SOUTH DAKOTA - Value-added Ag. Development Center, Inc. - \$100,000** - Purpose: To assist in the creation of value-added agriculture cooperative businesses in South Dakota.

**TEXAS -- The University of Texas -- Pan American \-- \$232,460 --**
Purpose: To promote rural economic development and facilitate the
creation and retention of jobs in rural South Texas through the
development of rural cooperatives, value-added processing, and rural
business.

**VIRGINIA - Southern States Cooperative Foundation - \$299,980 -**
Purpose: To assist farmers in the traditional tobacco-dependent regions
to develop innovative cooperative enterprises that take advantage of
trends in the modern marketplace.

\#