The National Cooperative Business Association has prepared a Cooperative Advocacy Toolkit to use in advocating for federal funding for the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program which includes the Rural Cooperative Development Grant and the Socially Disadvantaged Group Grant. These programs provide vital funding for CCCD’s programs.
Please contact your federal representatives ASAP or by Friday, March 16. Action steps include:
- Write a constituent email ask for a Member Appropriations Submission supporting RCDG Here is a link to contact information for your member of Congress: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative (March 16th)
- Please check back here for more ways to support—there are additional actions that are due by March 30---please stay tuned!
PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR MESSAGE:
I urge you to request the allocation of at least $26,550,000 for the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program of the Rural Business—Cooperative Service account in the FY 2018 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations. This proposed amount would maintain level funding for RCDG which includes the Rural Cooperative Development Grant and the Socially Disadvantaged Group Grant. These appropriations provide crucial contributions to the economic development and vitality of rural America and collectively benefit businesses across industry sectors, enabling small local businesses, farms and food producers, and resident owned communities to thrive.
Since its inception almost 20 years ago, the Rural Cooperative Development programs have been instrumental to the development of hundreds of businesses, the creation of thousands of jobs, and have provided a lifeline for rural communities. In California, these funding sources have created community based businesses, jobs, housing and economic development.
For more information about RCDG click here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JgEDot9PC45RLaNnFxKPI-m6b3dgkptO