U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on Oct. 28 issued a USDA proclamation to recognize October 2021 as National Cooperative Month and to celebrate the vital role that cooperatives play in improving economic opportunities and the quality of life in America.
USDA designated “Build Back for Impact” as the theme for National Cooperative Month 2021, echoing the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic, increase equity and combat climate change.
In his proclamation, Vilsack noted that more than 30,000 cooperatives operate at 73,000 places of business throughout the U.S. They account for more than 2 million jobs, boast about 350 million memberships and generate $654 billion in annual revenue.
The proclamation also stressed the importance of cooperatives to provide power, high-speed broadband internet and improved education and health care services to people in rural America.
USDA Rural Development offers a variety of financial assistance and services to assist rural businesses, including cooperatives and agricultural producers. To learn more, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programsservices/cooperatives.
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