The Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for grants to help rural businesses create jobs through cooperative development centers. In making the announcement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack explained, – cooperative development centers are business and job incubators. They support President Obama’s goal to bring increased economic opportunities to rural communities by assisting new businesses as they create sustainable jobs.

Under the RCDG program, grants of up to 225-thousand dollars may be awarded to colleges, universities and non-profit groups to create and operate centers that help individuals or groups establish, expand or operate rural businesses, especially cooperatives. Grants may be used to conduct feasibility studies, create and implement business plans, and help businesses develop new markets for their products and services.

USDA may award up to 7.4-million dollars in grants. Funds may finance up to 75 percent of the cost of establishing and operating the cooperative centers. Recipients must match 25 percent of the total project cost. Applications are due July 22, 2011.