AURI awarded USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) a $200,000 Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) to assist rural businesses and cooperative development during the 2018 calendar year. This is the fourth time AURI has received an RCDG since 2010.
The RCDG is a multi-million dollar initiative to help America’s rural communities achieve their potential to create jobs and expand economic opportunities. Many rural businesses and organizations are succeeding under the cooperative business model, and with access to additional resources, they can boost job creation and create an environment where more products are made in rural America.
The announced funding from the USDA will provide funds to support AURI’s mission to foster long-term economic benefit for Minnesota through value-added agricultural products. Specifically, the grant will advance AURI’s Rural Cooperative Development Center in Minnesota. The Center provides business development, technical assistance, as well as coordination of local and state rural development activities. In addition, the Development Center will offer due diligence assessments, assist in obtaining funds for research and development activities, conduct technical and economic feasibility analysis, support cooperative development strategies and develop strategic networking opportunities. The Center offers these services to services to new or existing rural cooperatives and mutually-owned businesses in the areas of local foods marketing and distribution, coproduct utilization, biobased product development, feed processing, food processing, sustainable crop development and renewable energy. In doing so, the Center advances value-added agricultural opportunities and strengthens “Main Street” businesses.
“The RCDG dollars enhance AURI’s ability to deliver on its mission,” said AURI Executive Director Shannon Schlecht. “Minnesota’s agriculture industry is critically important to the state’s economy, and AURI has been able to deliver valuable services to more than 30 Minnesota businesses through this program in recent years.”
Currently, AURI’s Development Center offers services to new or existing rural cooperatives and mutually owned businesses in the areas of local foods marketing and distribution, coproduct utilization, biobased product development, feed processing, food processing and renewable energy.
The goals for AURI’s Development Center are to:
• Effectively serve rural areas in the United States.
• Improve the economic condition of rural areas through cooperative development.
• Seek participation and expertise of business and industry, educational institutions, the Federal government, and State and local governments.
To learn more about AURI, its Rural Cooperative Development Center, or the other services offered to promote Minnesota agricultural commodity use, visit auri.org.
To learn more about USDA’s RCDG program, visit rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-cooperative-development-grant-program.
