The 2014 Farm Bill recognized the economic development and wealth-building opportunities of cooperatives by requiring that Federal agencies and cooperative organizations foster and coordinate on cooperative development. Federal partners include agencies with jurisdiction over cooperatives and with programs that cooperative businesses can use. The Agriculture Department, the Internal Revenue Service, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, the Labor Department, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development are all agencies with direct jurisdiction over cooperatives. The Small Business Administration is required under the Main Street Employee Ownership Act to enter agreements with Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to conduct training and provide information and resources on employee ownership through cooperatives. Other agencies have programs, information, and/or tools that cooperatives can access depending on the cooperative’s business. States and private sector cooperative organizations are also partners and are encouraged to be active participants in the Interagency Working Group. If your organization is not included here, please contact us at CoopInfo@usda.gov .
Private Sector Partners
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association advocates for rural electric cooperatives and their members.
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation
The National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation is a nonprofit finance cooperative that provides financing to member organizations and affiliates in 49 states and the District of Columbia.
National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives
The National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives provides networking and accounting, tax, finance and business education for cooperative professionals.
Nebraska Cooperative Development Center at the University of Nebraska
Cooperative development centers provide technical assistance and other services to help cooperatives, their members, and individuals and businesses considering starting a cooperative.
North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives
Cooperative development centers provide technical assistance and other services to help cooperatives, their members, and individuals and businesses considering starting a cooperative.
Northcountry Cooperative Foundation
Cooperative development centers provide technical assistance and other services to help cooperatives, their members, and individuals and businesses considering starting a cooperative.
Northwest Agriculture Business Center
Cooperative development centers provide technical assistance and other services to help cooperatives, their members, and individuals and businesses considering starting a cooperative.
Northwest Cooperative Development Center
Cooperative development centers provide technical assistance and other services to help cooperatives, their members, and individuals and businesses considering starting a cooperative.
Ohio Cooperative Development Center at Ohio State University
Cooperative development centers provide technical assistance and other services to help cooperatives, their members, and individuals and businesses considering starting a cooperative.
Project Equity
Project Equity promotes worker ownership as a means to foster economic security and grow community wealth.