$197K Awarded in General Use Grants
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Nora Nolden, Senior Communications Consultant
[email protected] or (651) 245-6804
Compeer Financial Awards $197K in General Use Grants
42 Grants Awarded to Organizations in Compeer Territory
Sun Prairie, Wis., (July 22, 2024) – Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, has awarded 42 General Use Grants, totaling nearly $197,000. These grants fund initiatives and organizations whose work enriches agriculture and rural America, aligning with Compeer Financial’s mission.
These grants will directly impact the lives of 81,000 people, with 50% making a direct farmer education impact. These programs impact multi-generation operations, beginning and emerging farmers, women in agriculture and various commodities. In addition, grants support youth education and career exploration in agriculture and manufacturing, as well as financial literacy, entrepreneurial and work readiness skills.
This is the 13th cycle of the grant, which has awarded more than $2.5 million and impacted the lives of over six million people since inception. The Fund will offer this grant again in November 2024 to provide funding in early 2025.
“These grants focus on community organizations making an impact in the areas of education, environment, technology and quality of life,” said Karen Schieler, corporate giving manager at Compeer Financial. “The General Use Grants significantly enhance the health and vibrancy of rural America, with these innovative ideas and efforts creating a lasting impact.”
The 42 organizations receiving support from the General Use Grant Program throughout Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, include:
Illinois
American Farmland Trust: soil health and succession planning workshops for women producers and landowners
Artisan Grain Collaborative: AGC Barnstormer 2024
Food for Thoughts – Hancock County: weekend meal bags for students
Gridley Food Pantry: cargo trailer for food transportation
Illinois Beef Association: risk management and marketing education for beef producers
Illinois Extension: Extension education programming
Illinois Farmers Market Association: enhancing digital marketing for farmers markets
Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership: Soil Health Leadership Program
Junior Achievement of Central Illinois: financial literacy, work and career readiness and entrepreneurship education for students
Mercer County Better Together: Rural Business Technical Assistance Program
Nutrients for Life: plant and soil science classroom resources
Minnesota
Big Ideas, Inc.: crane simulator learning lab
Community Action Duluth: rehabilitating the existing kitchen for use by local producers
Farm Commons, Inc.: translating legal education curriculum to Spanish
FM360: support for market participation
Junior Achievement North: financial literacy, work and career readiness and entrepreneurship education for students
Land Stewardship Project: expanding language access to beginning farmer education programs
Martin County EDA: agricultural manufacturing business tour for students and residents
Owatonna Healthy Seniors Program: general operating support
Rice County Farmers Union: livestock skills course
Southern Agricultural Center for Excellence: multi-generational farm transition retreats
Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota: on-farm consulting cost share pilot program
The Blue Earth Economic Development Authority: technology upgrades for the Ag Center
University of Minnesota Extension: Beginning Farmer Learning cohort
University of Minnesota Extension: women in agriculture network educational workshops
Wisconsin
Agnes’ Table and Community Center: general operating support for meals and food pantry
Fond du Lac County United Way: purchasing fresh produce from local farmers and agricultural education for childcare centers
Fondy Food Center, Inc.: enhancing farm irrigation systems
Good Neighbor Clinic of Sauk Prairie: diabetes medication
Green County Development Corporation: agricultural and manufacturing business tour for students
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc: financial literacy, work and career readiness and entrepreneurship education for students
Lafayette County Health Department: providing vaccine and health education in multiple languages
Mutual Community Mission Group: weekend meal bags for students
Quality Dairy Goat Producers Cooperative of Wisconsin: 2024 cost of Goat Milk Production Study
REAP Food Group, Inc.: rural producer engagement sessions
Saukville Community Food Pantry: mobile pantry serving northern Ozaukee County
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, Inc.: Farm to Foodbank initiative
Shepherds College: classroom and greenhouse supplies for the horticulture education program
The Community Table Inc.: general operating support to provide daily meals
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee County Urban Agriculture Program: repairing hoop housing and renewing educational programming at three growing sites
Vernon Memorial Healthcare Foundation Inc.: Center for Special Children Program
YMCA of the North – Camp St. Croix: farm and garden program
About the Fund for Rural America
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual adjusted net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of agricultural advocacy and development, agriculture education, cooperative initiatives, rural development and community enrichment; and youth engagement. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. More information about opportunities available through the Fund can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $32.3 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial.
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