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Cooperative Development
Programs The Cooperative
Services program of the Rural Business Service helps rural residents form
new cooperative businesses and improve the operations of existing
cooperatives. To accomplish this, cooperative programs provide: technical
assistance, conducts cooperative related research, and produce educational
materials and statistics that promote public understanding of
cooperatives.
Cooperative Development
Assistance Cooperative
Services provide a wide range of assistance for people interested in
forming cooperatives. This help can range from an initial feasibility
study to the creation and implementation of a business plan. Staff
assistance can be provided by cooperative development specialists who do
everything from identifying potential cooperative functions through the
developing of bylaws. They also can provide training for cooperative
directors. Technical
Assistance Technical
assistance is provided to existing cooperatives facing specific problems
or challenges. Technical assistance could include helping a cooperative
develop a strategic marketing plan to cope with new competitive forces,
helping a co-op make a crucial decision whether to merge or form a joint
venture with other cooperatives, or finding a way to turn raw products of
cooperative members into value added products. Research, Education and
Statistics Cooperative
services conduct research to provide a knowledge base to help cooperatives
deal with changing markets and business trends. Studies include financial,
structural, managerial, policy, member governance, legal and social
issues. Cooperative Services also maintains a storehouse of information
about cooperatives which is available to the public through more than 150
research reports, educational publications and videos.
Rural Cooperative Development
Grants This grant program
will be used to facilitate the creation or retention of jobs in rural
areas through the development of new rural cooperatives, value-added
processing and rural businesses. Grants may be made to nonprofit
corporations and institutions of higher education to pay up to 75% of the
costs for establishing and operating centers for rural cooperative
development. Grant funds may be used to assist individuals, cooperatives,
small businesses and other similar entities in rural areas for the
following purposes: applied research and feasibility studies, technical
assistance, training and micro-lending.
Rural Development
- Southern New England Jurisdiction |
