Technical Assistance to Cooperatives (10.350)
Program
10.350 Technical Assistance to Cooperatives
Federal Agency
RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURE
Authorization
Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926, 7 U.S.C. 451- 457; Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Program Number
10.350
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To develop and administer research, technical assistance, statistical, and educational programs on financial, organization, management, legal, social, and economic aspects of farmer cooperatives.
Types of Assistance
Advisory Services and Counseling; Dissemination of Technical Information.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Provides technical assistance, research, and advisory services to farmer cooperatives and to groups of farmers interested in forming cooperatives.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Farmer cooperatives and groups of farmers interested in forming cooperatives (including those located in the U.S. Territories.)
Beneficiary Eligibility
Farmer cooperatives and groups of farmers interested in forming cooperatives (including those located in the U.S. Territories.)
Credentials/Documentation
Requests for technical assistance by a cooperative should come from the cooperative board of directors. Requests for assistance in forming a co-op should be made in writing on behalf of producers interested in forming a cooperative.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Letter to the Deputy Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) for Cooperative Programs office listed below.
Award Procedure
RBS responds to each request.
Deadlines
None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Technical assistance projects range from a single work-day to one-half a work-year.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
None.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," non federal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
None.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2001, Cooperative Services provided research, technical assistance, and educational materials to many rural cooperatives and to groups interested in organizing cooperatives. Agency staff participated in 40 formal technical assistance projects involving 50 cooperatives and producer groups in 24 States.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-1903-0-1-452.
Obligations
Funding for the activities of the former ACS was merged with the Rural Business - Cooperative Service, and therefore funding for fiscal year FY 2001 cannot be specifically identified and compared with prior years.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
List of publications- periodicals (annual listing of publications issued by RBS), no charge. Fees are assessed for certain publications.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Deputy Administrator, Rural Business- Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Box 3250, Washington, DC 20250-3250. Telephone: (202) 720-8460. FTS is not available. Contact: Dr. James E. Haskell.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Cooperative Education Resource Guide and Directory developed to list courses, training programs, printed materials, audiovisual materials, and other teaching aids for use by trainers and educators for teaching about farmer cooperatives. Cooperative education development of a Farmer Cooperative Educational Expert System for use on PC computers to teach a broad range of topics about farmer cooperatives to public and private groups, universities, and individuals.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
