Deadline: 15-Sep-2025
The Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program is designed to strengthen the economic foundation of rural communities by supporting nonprofit institutions in establishing and operating centers for rural cooperative development.
These centers will serve as vital resources, offering technical assistance to cooperatives and mutually owned businesses to help them start, expand, or improve operations in rural areas.
The core aim of the program is to create jobs and foster economic growth through the development of new cooperatives, value-added processing, and other rural business ventures. By empowering nonprofit organizations to deliver practical guidance and services, the program seeks to address challenges that hinder economic progress in rural America.
Applicants that demonstrate strong experience in promoting cooperative and mutually owned businesses, along with expertise in providing technical assistance to rural communities, will be given preference. Proposals that focus on retaining existing businesses, generating new employment opportunities, and introducing innovative cooperative approaches are particularly encouraged. The program also emphasizes support for underserved and economically distressed rural regions, ensuring inclusive development.
Additionally, applicants are encouraged to align their projects with national workforce strategies by assisting businesses in training, hiring, and retaining skilled workers. Collaborations with educational and community partners to build a sustainable workforce pipeline will be a valued component. Networking and sharing results with other cooperative development centers, as well as fostering multi-organization and multistate approaches, are also key priorities.
For fiscal year 2025, approximately $5.8 million has been allocated to the RCDG program. Only nonprofit institutions, including accredited higher education institutions, are eligible to apply. These organizations must operate on a nonprofit basis, with no part of their net earnings benefiting private individuals or shareholders.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
