The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

During October, National Co-op Month, I wanted to shine a light on the incredible work cooperatives do in rural Wisconsin. Across Wisconsin, the U.S. Department of Agriculture works with cooperatives – businesses that are owned and managed by its members – to support rural prosperity.

For example, the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative is using a $250,000 Value-Added Producer grant to increase minimally processed vegetables in schools and childcare centers throughout Wisconsin.

In Westby, Westby Cooperative Creamery is using a nearly $15.5 million loan through USDA’s Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan program and Security Financial Bank to expand and modernize. A new state-of-the-art Multiple Cheese Vat system features curd-cutting tools and gentle agitation to reduce curd damage and boost yield, cutting cheese making time from 16 hours to six hours.

In Tilleda, the Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprises (TPCE) is using an $800,000 loan through USDA’s Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan program to re-open and expand the former Hoffman Wood Fiber LLC sawmill.

In Fiscal Year 2026, USDA invested $121,454,400 in cooperatives through the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee program. 

  • Dairyland Power Cooperative will use a $33,871,000 loan and a $65,296,000 loan for two separate transmission facility projects.
  • Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative will use a $7,000,000 loan to build 52 new miles, improve 27 miles of line, and make other system improvements.
  • West Wisconsin Telecom Cooperative will use a $14,538 loan to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet.

The Cooperative Education Service Agency (CESA) 10 will use a $749,400 grant through USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program to modernize instructional technology and expand educational access for rural communities.

Earlier this month, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins proclaimed the 62nd anniversary of National Cooperative Month. The theme this year is “Built for this Moment,” as chosen by the National Cooperative Business Association. This theme acknowledges the electric co-ops delivering essential infrastructure to rural America, the food co-ops that support local farmers and agricultural producers, the housing co-ops creating lasting affordability and the worker co-ops preserving local businesses. It also highlights co-ops as resilient networks, working hard every day to care for communities. 

Just like here in Wisconsin, cooperatives are powerful engines of economic growth for our whole nation. Across the U.S., more than 30,000 cooperatives—including food, grocery, worker, retail, purchasing, utility, housing and financial cooperatives—support over 2.5 million jobs and generate roughly $650 billion in annual revenue. 

Given this far-reaching impact, it is no surprise that co-ops are central to President Trump’s America First agenda to strengthen our economy and empower communities. Since the start of the Trump-Vance administration and under the leadership of Secretary Rollins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has invested more than $18.1 billion in loans and grants to support 242 cooperatives. These investments are spurring economic development, supporting critical electric and broadband infrastructure, and paving the way for unprecedented prosperity through rural cooperatives supported by USDA Rural Development’s programs.  

Supporting cooperatives strengthens farmer profitability, expands market access and creates jobs in rural communities. It also encourages innovation and reinforces America’s leadership role in agriculture, food production and farm security. At USDA Rural Development, we will be celebrating the co-ops we support throughout the month of October, because they work so hard on behalf of people in rural communities across Wisconsin. We invite you to join our celebration on social media at @RD_Wisconsin.

USDA Rural Development offers a variety of financial assistance and services to assist rural businesses, including cooperatives and agricultural producers. For more information on cooperatives, visit USDA Rural Development Cooperative Services.   

Andrew C. Iverson is Wisconsin state director, USDA Rural Development