USDA seeks applicants for grants to assist rural cooperatives, businesses

    WASHINGTON, DC —Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is accepting grant applications to assist rural businesses and create job opportunities through cooperative development centers.
    “Cooperative development centers create jobs by providing rural businesses owners with technical and managerial skills to improve their operations,” Vilsack said. “The Obama Administration is working to create a path of opportunity for all hard-working Americans to enter the middle class, and strengthen small and mid-sized communities. These centers further that effort.”
    Grants of up to $225,000 may be awarded to colleges, universities, and non-profit groups to create and operate centers that help individuals or groups establish, expand or operate rural businesses, especially cooperatives. The centers promote President Obama’s goal to bring increased economic opportunities to rural residents by allowing them to acquire tools to help their businesses grow. Cooperative program grants can be used, among other things, to conduct feasibility studies, create and implement business plans, and help businesses develop new markets for their products and services.
    “I am extremely pleased to announce the availability of funding under the Rural Cooperative Development Program (RCDG) in Maine,” said Virginia Manuel, USDA Rural Development State Director. “I am optimistic that all of USDA Rural Development’s partners will recognize the value the program brings to cooperatives and submit applications for funding.”
    USDA may award up to $7.9 million in grants nationwide through this notice of funding availability. Grants may finance up to 75 percent of the cost of establishing and operating the cooperative centers. Recipients must match 25 percent of the total project cost. Applications are due August 9, 2010. The application guide for this grant program can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm. For more information, please see the June 25, 2010 Federal Register at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-15428.htm
    Through its Rural Development mission area, USDA administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in the nation’s capital and 500 state and local offices.
    These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers, and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $138 billion in loans and loan guarantees.
    USDA Rural Development has Area Offices located in Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston, and Scarborough, as well as a State Office, located in Bangor.
    There are 83 employees working to deliver the agency’s Housing, Business, and Community Programs, which are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, and farmers, and improve the quality of life in rural Maine.
    In Fiscal Year 2009 USDA Rural Development invested over $420 million in the state of Maine. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/me