USDA Invests More Than $1.2 Billion in Rural Cooperatives to Increase Economic Opportunity and Advance Equity in Rural America 

On November 9th, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA is investing more than $1.2 billion in loans and grants to spur economic development; catalyze rural prosperity; and advance equity through rural cooperatives in 36 states and Puerto Rico. Among the awards were several projects impacting California, including a rural development grant of $25 million to support the construction and development of a four-story hotel located in RCRC’s member county of San Luis Obispo, and a Value-Added Producer Grant for Sunsweet Growers Inc., headquartered in Placer County.   For more information, and additional projects impacting California, see the full list here.