Cooperative Development Foundation

Rural American Communities Face Population Loss, Grocery Store Closures, Inadequate and Expensive Health and Elder Care, Loss of Economic Opportunity, Unemployment and More. and Many Rural Youth Are No Longer Interested in Pursuing Careers on the Farms They Grew Up on. Cooperatives Offer a Pathway for Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Community Members to Work Together to Build Local Economies That Allow Them to Thrive.the Cooperative Development Foundation and Our Nine Co-op Development Partners Will Use Past and New Research on the Co-op Model to Improve Economic Conditions in Rural Areas by: 1) Providing Training and Technical Assistance to Start, Expand, or Improve Rural Co-ops, With a Focus on Food and Home Care; 2) Equipping the Rural Workforce of Today and Tomorrow With Skills and Resources to Launch, Manage and Govern Cooperative Businesses; and 3) Building the Capacity of Co-op Developers to Meet Rural Needs. Our Project Will Help Rural Residents and Businesses Build the Future of Agriculture and Ensure Access to Critical Goods and Services in AMERICA'S Heartland.