Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act

The Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act reauthorizes the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program, which provides funding to support rural cooperatives (such as farmer-owned businesses, community-based organizations, and member-run enterprises) in starting, expanding, or sustaining operations. It updates the definition of "cooperative development" to explicitly include outreach, education, training, and technical assistance for these entities. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize grant applications meeting specific criteria, analyze program data, and submit annual reports to Congress detailing the program’s activities and outcomes. This directly affects rural cooperatives seeking financial support and the USDA in administering the grants.