Rural America has always relied on cooperation to survive and thrive. From rural electric co-op infrastructure to finance and agriculture, cooperatives have built the systems that power rural communities. Yet as economic pressures intensify and federal policy decisions loom, this essential business model is increasingly misunderstood, undervalued and at risk.
In a new op-ed for the Billings Gazette, Tracy McIntyre makes the case that cooperatives are not relics of the past, but a modern, democratic response to consolidation, disinvestment and shrinking rural representation. “What we’re seeing is not a nostalgic return to the past, but a modern resurgence grounded in democratic ownership and resilience,” McIntyre writes.
McIntyre is Executive Director of the Montana Cooperative Development Center an a member of NCBA CLUSA’s Board of Directors.
If you encounter a paywall, the full text is shared below.
Rural America’s history is rooted in cooperation — literally.
From electric co-ops that first brought power to farms in the 1930s to telecom co-ops now delivering fiber broadband, cooperatives have been a silent engine of rural resilience.
Yet many Americans today — especially outside of rural communities — don’t realize how embedded these co-ops are in their lives.
The credit union you bank with? A co-op.
The ag supply store your neighbor relies on? Likely a co-op.
And in 2025, as economic and policy pressures mount, these community-owned institutions are more vital than ever — but also more vulnerable.
In Montana alone, where I reside, cooperatives across all sectors generate a $7.1 billion impact on the state’s economy, supporting over 24,000 jobs and $1.6 billion in family wages.
These are not abstract numbers — they represent schools staying open, grocery stores surviving in remote areas, and families having access to affordable utilities, housing, and childcare.
But here’s the reality: the backbone of co-op growth — cooperative development centers like mine — are on the brink.
Federal Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program funding is uncertain, and without it, we face furloughs and service cuts. In just the last three years, RCDG-backed efforts saved over 9,000 jobs; over the past decade, this program has supported more than 20,000 businesses across the country.
Make no mistake — losing this infrastructure now would erase decades of rural economic progress.
And the demand for our services is rising fast. Between 2021 and 2024, we saw a 40% spike in interest, largely because rural communities are reacting to massive consolidation in agriculture, banking, and retail.
These communities aren’t passively watching — they’re mobilizing around cooperative models to protect their local economies and identities. What we’re seeing is not a nostalgic return to the past, but a modern resurgence grounded in democratic ownership and resilience.
One bright spot is broadband. In Montana, telecom co-ops have already built out fiber networks that put some urban areas to shame. But continued deployment hinges on easing federal restrictions that limit co-op expansion into new service areas.
The opportunity is there — if we let cooperatives lead.
Our governance structure — local ownership, democratic control, and community accountability — offers something the private sector cannot: trust and alignment with local priorities. In an era of declining rural political representation and shrinking federal budgets, cooperatives are the last line of defense for self-determination.
What’s urgently needed now is a twofold call to action. First, for established cooperatives — especially larger, well-resourced ones — to step into a leadership role and support cooperative development centers with advocacy, funding, and collaboration.
Second, for those of us in development centers to proactively bridge the gap and build coalitions across sectors and regions. We must connect the dots between food, finance, energy, and enterprise — because the issues facing rural America don’t fit neatly into policy silos.
We are addressing critical needs like childcare deserts, housing shortages, and business conversions as aging rural entrepreneurs retire. These are not optional services — they are essential to community survival. When a rural grocery store closes, the town often follows.
Through cooperative ownership, we’ve seen firsthand how to reverse that trend.
The time to act is now. If we lose this moment — and the modest but essential support that keeps cooperative development viable — we risk unraveling one of the few truly grassroots economic systems this country has left.
Rural America can’t afford that. Neither can the nation.