Collaborative Funding and Creative Financing
Valuing of Rural Character and Regional Identity
- Quantifying the potential impact of increased tourism
- Promoting value of the rural character of the community to prospective employers
- Initiation promotional campaign to establish unique regional identity
- Development of regional labels and promotional materials
Linking with Farmland Preservation or Environmental Initiatives
- Farmland preservation
- Family farm and rural community assistance
- Endangered species protection
- Wildlife habitat restoration
Multi-county Ag Market Development Boards
- Facilitates the raising of local capital for market assessments
- Coordination of staff with volunteers and community leaders to obtain state funding
- Source for proposals for federal funding of feasibility studies
Appropriate Combinations of Funding and Financing
- Start with membership fees or user fees from participating growers
- Apply to relevant local, state, regional and national grant programs
- Leverage initial grants as matching funds on new proposals
- Use grant funded investments as collateral for low interest loans
Shared Funding for Specialized Infrastructure
- Investigate specialized government and private grants, loans, and loan guarantees
- Negotiate potential joint venture with prospective processor
- Encourage donations or bequests of land, equipment or building materials
- Accept contribution of labor as "sweat equity" investment
Selected Resources
How to Start a Cooperative, by Gene Ingalsbe and James L. Goff. USDA/ Ag Coopertive Service, Coop Info Report #7. Contact 202-512-1800.
Putting Cooperation to Work, Brian Henehan, Brice Anderson, Timothy Pezzolesi and Robert Campbell. Loose-leaf binder on developing a cooperative, featuring case studies, developed for videoconference. Cost $25. Edited video of conference available for $25. Handbook and video together for $45. Contact Brian Henehan at 607-255-8800 or email to bmh5@cornell.edu.
Starting an Agricultural Marketing Cooperative. A non-technical introduction to forming an agricultural cooperative in California. Center for Cooperative, Univ. of California-Davis. Contact 916-752-2408.
USDA Rural Business Cooperative Services. Helps cooperatives learn to market and distribute agricultural products. 202-720-7558; www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/csdir.htm
