Specifically, the bill provides $5.8 million for the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program, rejecting the Administration’s proposal to eliminate funding and maintaining Congressional funding levels from Fiscal Year 2019. RCDG is a competitive grants program administered by the USDA and awarded to cooperative development centers working in rural communities nationwide. These funds are used to assist individuals or businesses in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural cooperative enterprises.

In addition, grants for cooperative agreements for appropriate technology transfers for rural areas (ATTRA), value-added agricultural product market development, and Agriculture Innovation Centers each received small increases.

Application window now open for 2024 Rural Cooperative Development Grant and Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant

Department of Housing and Urban Development funding opportunity – Apply for a PRICE grant by June 5

The bill also includes report language requested by NCBA CLUSA, demonstrating the Committee’s support for cooperative businesses. “The Committee recognizes the important role that cooperatives play in the nation’s rural economy and the continued need to fund established and successful development centers throughout the country,” the bill states.

Read a summary of the bill here.

The bill now awaits action by the full House of Representatives.

The Senate will draft its own version of a Fiscal Year 2020 funding bill for the USDA. In April, Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) led a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee supporting an increase in RCDG funding. Sen. Smith was joined by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Richard Durbin (D-IL).

Between 2008 and 2017, cooperative development centers nationwide used RCDG funds to generate or save nearly 15,000 jobs, incorporate over 1,000 businesses and create more than 4,000 cooperative housing units across rural America.

Between 2008 and 2017, cooperative development centers nationwide used RCDG funds to generate or save nearly 15,000 jobs, incorporate over 1,000 businesses and create more than 4,000 cooperative housing units across rural America.