On Wednesday, November 19, NCBA CLUSA joined the National Association of Counties (NACo) and Reimagining Rural Assistance Network (RRAN) on Capitol Hill for a day of meetings focused on shared priorities. NCBA serves a steering committee member for RRAN, a coalition of rural development advocates, experts and practitioners seeking to improve rural America’s economic prosperity. NACo represents the interests of America’s counties, serving as a powerful voice in federal policymaking. Together, NCBA, NACo and RRAN serve as a coalition of cooperative, county and rural development voices working to strengthen communities across America.  

The morning sessions highlighted research and key insights from leaders in the rural development sector, who led discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities. NCBA President and CEO, Doug O’Brien, moderated a panel on the impact of federal policies on rural communities, inviting speakers to highlight their findings on capacity building and Congressional action.  

In the afternoon, several dozen advocates met with members of Congress and their staff to discuss the importance of federal programs and initiatives that allow rural communities to access the resources intended to serve them while retaining wealth and keeping local jobs stable. NCBA strongly supports the inclusion of cooperatives across federal programs as a tool for economic development. Rural places face distinct challenges in meeting local needs. With lean staff and tight budgets, local governments and their community-based partners often lack the personnel, targeted expertise and capital to navigate complex federal programs with heavy application, reporting or match requirements. As a result, rural communities with the greatest need often have the least capacity to access help.  

Cooperatives and development centers are a time-tested way for rural communities to bridge these capacity gaps by pooling local resources and community leadership. By keeping ownership and decision-making in the hands of residents, cooperatives provide a sustainable model for delivering essential services, creating jobs, and building long-term economic resilience in rural counties.   

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The measures discussed on the Hill would continue to allow for this and more, and they include: 

• Support and request a fully funded rural development Title VI in the 2026 Farm Bill including USDA RD titles such as the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, Rural Utilities Service, community facilities programs, among others.

• Continue to support the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) Fund and support full, inflation adjusted funding of $324 million for the CDFI Fund in FY 2026. This fund allows service providers and cooperatives to access capital to grow their businesses, create jobs, and create community wealth.  

• Continued support and passage of S. 2651 Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025. Including cooperatives in this measure ensures that communities can use member-owned models to expand affordable, locally anchored housing. 

• Continue to support efforts to ensure that USDA RD offices have the staffing, tools and flexibility to support rural communities. An opportunity exists to modernize USDA RD’s technology systems, and it is imperative to preserve continuity of staffing and programming during any USDA reorganization that affects rural-facing programs. 

• Direct Investment in Rural Capacity Building. Include a new rural capacity building provision in the Farm Bill. Advance reforms modeled after the (S.3309/H.R.6041) Rural Partnership and Prosperity (RPP) Act to support flexible funding opportunities and technical support to build out local capacity for rural counties and our partners. 

• Create efficiency and enhance access to federal programs for Rural Communities. Reduce red tape and right-size application, reporting and match requirements so rural places can compete and deliver essential projects quickly and affordably. Standardize applications and timelines across RD programs and other federal rural programs to move dollars faster, ease strain on local staff and USDA field offices and ensure funds reach communities with the greatest need in the most efficient manner, not just the communities with the most capacity. 

NCBA will continue advocating for these and other priorities in the federal appropriations and Farm Bill reauthorization process. For questions or more information, contact advocacy@ncba.coop.