Authorized through the Farm Bill, the RCDG program is the only federal program solely dedicated to cooperative development. RCDG provides grants to Cooperative Development Centers established through nonprofits or institutions of higher education to improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand or improve rural cooperatives. Historically administered by USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), the program is now administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through a partnership with USDA Rural Development.
Among this year’s recipients is the Montana Cooperative Development Center (MCDC), which received an award to expand cooperative development services, strengthen governance and leadership and advance new business opportunities through statewide, regional and national partnerships over two years. The investment will help preserve essential rural services and jobs, support locally owned businesses and strengthen Montana’s cooperative ecosystem.
“We are excited and grateful to receive this two-year investment from USDA and for the continued confidence in our work as a statewide resource for both new and existing cooperatives,” said Montana Cooperative Development Center Executive Director and U.S. Co-ops Board Member Tracy McIntyre. “Through the alignment of the Montana Cooperative Development Center and the Montana Council of Cooperatives, Montana’s statewide, cross-sector cooperative trade association, we are uniquely positioned to connect cooperative development with the knowledge, experience and strength of our existing cooperative community.”
The announcement marks another year of federal investment in cooperative development, following $4.2 million in RCDG awards in FY2025. Continued support for programs like RCDG is critical to ensuring rural communities have access to the technical assistance, education and resources needed to build and sustain successful cooperative businesses.
These investments reflect the importance of continued federal support for cooperative development and the tireless advocacy of the cooperative business community. U.S. Co-ops continues to advocate for modernizing the RCDG program in the next Farm Bill and increased funding through the annual appropriations process to support cooperative development.
Learn about our work to strengthen federal support for cooperatives