USDA Rural Development provides technical assistance 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 in
finding a way to turn the raw products of cooperative members into value-added
products. These matters are often crucial issues not only for a cooperative, but
also for the rural communities in which they operate. Rural Development can help
improve a cooperative’s business structure and operating efficiency by analyzing
operations, assessing the economic feasibility of adding new facilities, new
products or services. Studies cover the full range of decisions facing
cooperative businesses. Technical assistance is largely designed to benefit a
specific cooperative business or group. However, the results often provide
business strategy for all cooperatives.
Research
USDA Rural Development conducts 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, as well as various other economic
activities of cooperatives. Research is designed to have direct application to
current and emerging requirements of cooperatives. A major challenge is to
analyze industry structure and cooperative operational practices to determine
the changes required to maintain or achieve a producer-oriented marketing
system. Recent research studies have focused on capitalization plans used by
cooperatives, identification of new niche markets for cooperatives, and
opportunities and obstacles cooperatives face when exporting goods overseas.
FFor 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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Us"
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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 |
