Biden-Harris Administration Invests More Than $1.2 Billion in Rural Cooperatives to Increase Economic Opportunity and Advance Equity in Rural America

DENVER, Co., Nov. 9, 2023

USDA Invests $1.2 Billion in Rural Cooperatives to Advance Sustainable Development Goals

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is allocating more than $1.2 billion in loans and grants to promote economic development, rural prosperity, and equity through rural cooperatives in 36 states and Puerto Rico. This investment aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations to achieve a sustainable and inclusive future for all.

“Cooperatives serve as one of our most important partners in delivering critical goods and services to rural communities and is central to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild the economy from the bottom up and middle out,” Secretary Vilsack emphasized. “The cooperative business model has been integral to rural advancement and the American economy for over a century, and today it accounts for more than two million jobs across the country. The investments we are announcing today will ensure that cooperatives continue their important work of serving the unique needs of their communities, filling market gaps, and building local wealth and opportunities for connection across rural America.”

Secretary Vilsack made this announcement during a roundtable discussion with rural community and small business leaders in Colorado as part of the Investing in Rural America Event Series. This series aims to highlight how the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments are bringing new revenue to farms, fostering economic development in rural towns and communities, and creating more opportunities throughout the country.

Investments Supporting Sustainable Development Goals

The $1.2 billion investment will support 112 projects in diverse communities and industries across Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico.

Examples of the investments include:

• EHC Bullhead City LP in Arizona will receive a $10 million Business and Industry loan guarantee to build a micro-hospital and urgent care facility in Bullhead City. This project will increase the availability of emergency room and hospital services in the rural community and create 40 jobs.
• Wayne-White Counties Electric Coop Inc. in Illinois will receive a $93,600 Rural Economic Development Loan to replace an old drainage water pump and diesel motor. This investment will protect over 9,000 acres of farmland from floodwaters and enhance the agriculture economy’s resilience to climate change.
• Keystone Development Center (KDC) Inc. will receive a $200,000 Rural Cooperative Development Grant to improve the economic condition and quality of life in rural communities across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland. This funding will support the Cooperative Academy and the development of at least 17 cooperative projects.
• The Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance will receive a $175,000 Socially Disadvantaged Group Grant to assist small socially disadvantaged groups in farm business plans and leadership development. This grant will enhance agricultural enterprises for 75 producers from six counties located in rural northeast Mississippi.

These investments are made possible through various USDA programs and services, including the Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program, Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program, Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program, Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program, Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program, and Value-Added Producer Grant Program.

A full list of projects from today’s announcement is available here.

Rural Cooperatives: Building Local Wealth and Resilience

Cooperatives are businesses owned and controlled by the people who use them. They operate for the benefit of their members, rather than to earn profits for investors. Cooperatives are a trusted and democratic business model that builds local wealth for members and communities. They are particularly resilient and embody the concept of self-help.

There are over 30,000 cooperatives operating at 73,000 places of business throughout the U.S., spanning various sectors such as agriculture, utilities, financial services, purchasing, food and grocery, housing, and retail. These cooperatives account for more than two million jobs, boast about 350 million memberships, and generate over $700 billion in annual revenue.

USDA Rural Development offers financial assistance and services to support rural businesses, including cooperatives and agricultural producers. For more information on cooperatives, visit the USDA Rural Development Cooperative Services website.

USDA’s Commitment to Sustainable Development

USDA plays a crucial role in improving the lives of all Americans by transforming the food system, ensuring access to safe and nutritious food, investing in rural infrastructure and clean energy capabilities, and promoting equity across the Department. These efforts align with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to achieving the SDGs and creating a sustainable and inclusive future.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements, business development, housing, community facilities, and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal, and high-poverty areas.

To stay updated with USDA Rural Development’s initiatives, subscribe to their GovDelivery subscriber page.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere.
• Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.
• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.
• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure.
• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all.
• Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services.
• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These include:

• Indicator 1.1.1: Proportion of population below the international poverty line, by sex, age, employment status, and geographical location.
• Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
• Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services (defined as the average coverage of essential services based on tracer interventions that include reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and service capacity and access).
• Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex.
• Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within two kilometers of an all-season road.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing.
• Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators