News Release
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News Release |
Contact: Kevin Herglotz, (202) 720-4623
Tim McNeilly, (202) 690-0498
15 STATES SELECTED FOR USDA RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT FUNDS
WASHINGTON, August 31, 2001--The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the selection of 15 projects totaling over $3.6 million in competitive grants targeted for rural cooperative development.
"The recipients selected today, face a significant challenge in cultivating a mindset of global competitiveness," said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman. "Through this combined effort between USDA and cooperatives, we have the ability to develop and embrace ideas and opportunities which will benefit our agricultural producers."
The selected projects will provide producers with education and technical assistance in areas of cooperative startup, marketing and managing, and value-added production.
Project selections were completed through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program, which is administered by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, an agency within USDA Rural Development. The grant program's mission is to facilitate the creation or retention of jobs in rural areas through the development of new rural cooperatives, value-added processing and rural businesses.
Recipients and grant amounts include the following:
| Alabama | Federation of Southern Co-ops/ Land Assistance Fund | $297,440 |
| Colorado | Rocky Mountain Farmers Union | $291,690 |
| Iowa | Iowa State University of Science & Technology | $300,000 |
| Illinois | Southern Illinois University Carbondale | $168,744 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Center for Coop Development | $205,000 |
| Massachusetts | Cooperative Development Institute, Inc. | $200,000 |
| Missouri | Missouri Incutech Foundation | $300,000 |
| Montana | Montana State University-Northern | $299,400 |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Community Foundation | $290,576 |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives | $240,850 |
| Ohio | Ohio State University Research Foundation | $245,837 |
| Pennsylvania | Keystone Development Center | $50,000 |
| South Carolina | South Carolina State University | $251,150 |
| Texas | University of Texas-Pan American | $241,070 |
| Wisconsin | Cooperative Development Services | $250,000 |
A complete list of the selected individual grant recipients and projects can be found at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/newsroom/2001/rcdgrecips.html. Veneman announced earlier this month RCDG program awards in Georgia, Iowa, California, Texas and Washington.
USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal entity for rural development needs, and administers program assistance through three agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service. Further information on USDA Rural Development can be obtained by contacting any USDA Service Center or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
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