By Blake Jackson
National Cooperative Month provides an opportunity to recognize the important role cooperatives play in supporting rural communities, agriculture, and local economies. Throughout Wisconsin, cooperatives continue to create jobs, expand services, and strengthen rural prosperity with assistance from USDA Rural Development programs.
According to Andrew C. Iverson, Wisconsin State Director of USDA Rural Development, cooperatives remain a key part of economic growth across the state. These member-owned and member-managed organizations support farmers, businesses, and residents through innovative projects and community-focused investments.
One example is the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, which received a $250,000 Value-Added Producer Grant. The funding is being used to increase the availability of minimally processed vegetables in schools and childcare centers across Wisconsin, helping connect local producers with consumers.
In Westby, Westby Cooperative Creamery is expanding and modernizing operations through a nearly $15.5 million loan supported by USDA’s Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program and Security Financial Bank. The project includes advanced cheese-making technology that improves efficiency, reduces processing time, and increases production capacity.
Another significant investment is supporting Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprises in Tilleda. Through an $800,000 USDA Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan, the cooperative is reopening and expanding a former sawmill, creating new opportunities for the local forestry sector and workforce.
USDA also invested more than $121 million in Wisconsin cooperatives during Fiscal Year 2026 through the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. These investments support critical infrastructure projects that benefit rural residents and businesses.
Dairyland Power Cooperative will use major USDA-backed loans to complete transmission facility projects that enhance energy reliability. Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative is expanding and upgrading power lines to improve service for members. Meanwhile, West Wisconsin Telecom Cooperative is deploying fiber-to-the-premises technology to provide high-speed internet access to rural communities.
Education is also benefiting from cooperative-focused investments. The Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 10 received a $749,400 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant to modernize educational technology and expand learning opportunities for rural students and communities.
This year’s National Cooperative Month theme, “Built for this Moment,” recognizes the resilience and impact of cooperatives across sectors, including agriculture, utilities, housing, finance, and food systems. These organizations continue to provide essential services while supporting local economic growth.
Across the United States, more than 30,000 cooperatives support over 2.5 million jobs and generate approximately $650 billion in annual revenue. USDA has invested billions of dollars in loans and grants to strengthen cooperative development, expand infrastructure, improve market access, and support rural communities.
By strengthening farmer profitability, encouraging innovation, and creating opportunities for rural residents, cooperatives continue to play a vital role in building stronger communities. Through ongoing support and investment, USDA Rural Development is helping ensure cooperatives remain a driving force behind rural success and long-term economic prosperity.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski
Categories: Wisconsin, Rural Lifestyle