| User-owned cooperatives process
and market products, purchase production supplies or consumer goods,
provide housing and credit, build and operate rural utilities, and
provide other services needed by rural residents. By working together
for their mutual benefit in cooperatives, rural residents are often able
to reduce costs, obtain services that might otherwise be unavailable,
and achieve greater returns for their products. Cooperatives, both rural
and urban, have been part of the American economy for more than 100
years. By one estimate, nearly one-third of the population belongs to
some type of cooperative. Application of the cooperative business
structure in rural economies is virtually limitless.
USDA Rural Development
Business-Cooperative Programs helps rural residents form new cooperative
businesses and improve the operations of existing cooperatives. To
accomplish this, USDA Rural Development provides technical assistance,
conducts cooperative-related research, and produces information products
to promote public understanding of cooperatives. For most of the
past century, USDA’s cooperative assistance has been concentrated on
agricultural cooperatives. While agricultural marketing and supply
cooperatives remain a primary focus of USDA’s efforts,
Business-Cooperative Programs plans to gradually expand the cooperative
program to include assistance to all types of rural cooperatives.
Want More Co-op
Information?
Cooperative Development
Technical Assistance
for Cooperatives
Cooperative Education
Rural Cooperative
Development Grant
For information or assistance
on cooperatives, please contact:
Business & Cooperative Development Specialist
Rodney Peach
Email: rodney.peach@wa.usda.gov
1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Suite C
Olympia, WA 98517
Telephone: (360) 704-7724
FAX: (360) 704-7742
You may also contact:
Northwest
Cooperative Development Center
1063 S. Capitol Way # 211
Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: (360) 943-4241
Fax: (360) 570-8415
The Northwest Cooperative Development Center is a nonprofit organization
devoted to assisting new and existing cooperative businesses foster
community economic development, primarily through the cooperative
business model.
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For questions, please refer to the
"Contact
Us"
page of
this website to select the proper individual. Send comments about the format of this web site to:
mailto:philip.eggman@wa.usda.gov
USDA Rural Development is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Provider and
Employer.
Complaints of Discrimination should be sent to:
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington D.C. 20250-9410
EEO/CR Statement
Last modified:
March 26, 2010
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