Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) Program 2026: USDA Offers Up to $1 Million to Strengthen Rural Cooperatives Across the United States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), has opened applications for the Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) Program 2026. The program provides substantial grant funding ranging from $200,000 to $1 million to eligible nonprofit organizations that establish and operate Centers for Rural Cooperative Development, helping strengthen rural economies through cooperative business development.