Building stronger foundations for rural America

Cooperatives are an essential part of strengthening rural America, enabling communities to own businesses, retain wealth and shape their economic futures. [photo courtesy W.K. Kellogg Foundation]Cooperatives have long been central to rural America's economic vitality-and they are essential to its future. Through Strong Foundations for Rural Advancement (SFRA), the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) and U.S. Co-ops are helping advance a national, cross-sector effort to strengthen rural communities, connect leaders and build the capacity for lasting economic change.

With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and CoBank, SFRA engaged more than 50 rural development leaders, practitioners and funders to develop a shared strategy for strengthening rural development nationwide.

The resulting strategy paper calls for greater collaboration, stronger rural voices, and sustained investment in locally driven solutions. Cooperatives are an essential part of that strategy, enabling communities to own businesses, retain wealth and shape their economic futures.

Now, with new funding secured for Phase II, Strong Foundations for Rural Advancement is moving from strategy to action, beginning implementation of priority recommendations to strengthen rural development networks, advance cross-sector collaboration and mobilize long-term investment.

Explore the project strategy paper, executive summary and presentation on U.S. Co-ops.