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<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Monday to all,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wanted to send everyone this information prior to the CGR meeting coming up in a few weeks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The State Director of Rural Development, Kenneth Corn, has expressed interest in wanting to partner with smaller universities to create a proposal for the Rural Cooperative Development (RCDG) grant.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Proposals are due June 26. A representative from Rural Development will likely attend the CGR meeting to discuss the opportunity and potential collaborations in further detail.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Program details<o:p></o:p></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This <span style="color:#1B1B1B;background:white">program improves the economic condition of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Cooperative
Development Centers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1B1B1B;background:white">Eligible applicants include: Non-profit corporations and institutions of higher ed. The Center may be located anywhere, however it must only serve rural areas (less than 50,000 in population).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1B1B1B;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1B1B1B;background:white">This program requires matching funds of 25% of total project costs (land-grant and tribally controlled colleges/universities only require 5%).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1B1B1B;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1B1B1B;background:white">Funds may be used for developing and operating a Rural Cooperative Development Center; technical assistance the center may provide includes: feasibility studies; business plans; leadership/operational
training; strategic planning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1B1B1B;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1B1B1B;background:white">The Federal Register notice is attached, and the USDA website link is below:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1B1B1B;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-cooperative-development-grant-program/ok">Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program in Oklahoma | Rural Development (usda.gov)</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you are not able to attend the meeting, but would like to discuss the opportunity, you may also contact:
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Amy Cowley<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director - Business & Cooperative Programs<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rural Development | Stillwater, Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">United States Department of Agriculture<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Phone: (405) 742-1039 | Fax: (855) 423-4044<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.rd.usda.gov/ok"><span style="color:blue">http://www.rd.usda.gov/ok</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Christine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Adobe Garamond Pro"">Christine Fisher<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Adobe Garamond Pro"">Coordinator of Grant Writing and External Funding Assistance<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Adobe Garamond Pro"">Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Adobe Garamond Pro"">655 Research Parkway Suite 200<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Adobe Garamond Pro"">Oklahoma City, OK 73104<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Adobe Garamond Pro"">cfisher@osrhe.edu<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Adobe Garamond Pro"">T: 405-225-9265<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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