Green County Development Corporation Selected as a Recipient of Compeer Financial's General Use Grant
32 Grants Totaling $204.6K were Awarded to Organizations in Compeer's Territory
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Photo courtesy of Erin Mullett
From left: Green County Economic Development Corporation Project and Marketing Manager Tracy Brewer, Compeer Financial Loan Officer Erin Mullett, Green County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Olivia Otte and Compeer Financial Loan Officer Anne Schultz.
Compeer Financial's Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative's giving program, has awarded 32 General Use Grants totaling $204,650.
Compeer Financial concentrates the General Use Grant funding in the cooperative's 144 county territory and on those programs that fit strategically with the intent of its clients and the rural communities in which they live. In order to be considered for funding, requests for support must align with Compeer's mission of enriching agriculture and Rural America, as well as, one of the following focus areas:
Education – educating young, beginning or future farmers.
Environment – maintaining or improving the quality of the rural environment.
Technology – supporting the advancement and utilization of technology for the benefit of farmers and rural communities.
Quality of Life – programs or initiatives that enhance the quality of life for farmers and rural communities.
This round of grants will directly impact the lives of 1.2 million people.
"The General Use Grant program impacts the communities where Compeer clients and team members live and work," said Karen Schieler, Senior Corporate Giving Specialist at Compeer Financial. "The grants embody our commitment to enriching agriculture and rural America, and to the farmers and communities we serve."
The Green County Development Corporation, or GCDC, was awarded $5,000 in funds to start the Green County Pop-up Shop Program - a new initiative to support small businesses and fill vacant storefronts in Green County's rural communities. The GCDC will be rolling out the Pop-up Shop Program in conjunction with their upcoming Small Business Series trainings this April - a five-part education series in which participants will receive guidance on a course to launch and grow their idea into a successful business. The Pop-up Shop Program will seek proposals from local small businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups who are interested in entering a downtown market in one of Green County's rural communities. Applicants selected to participate in the program will obtain assistance from the GCDC in facilitating the short-term lease of vacant storefronts. The Pop-Up Shop Program will aide in creating vibrant downtowns that improve the quality of life for all residents and visitors in rural Green County.
Participants interested in either the Small Business Series Trainings taking place from April 19th-May 17th, or the Pop-up Shop Program, can receive further information by contacting the GCDC at (608) 328-9452 or gcdc@tds.net.
Since the program was established in 2018, the Fund for Rural America has awarded 367 General Use Grants, totaling over $2.1 million. The Fund will offer this grant again in May 2023 to provide funding for summer 2023.
The 32 organizations receiving support from the General Use Grant Program throughout Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, include:
Illinois
LaSalle County Farm Bureau Foundation, Cook County Farm Bureau, Nutrients for Life Foundation, Livingston County Extension Council, Midwest Food Bank-Morton, Eastern Illinois Foodbank, Children's Discovery Museum Foundation, Cornerstone Community Wellness, Inc., Stephenson County Farm Bureau, Tri District Ambulance Service.
Minnesota
Lakewood Health System, Youth Farm, FM360, Christian Crossings, Inc., Home and Away Ministries DBA Ruby's Pantry, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, LSS of Minnesota/ Mankato sites, Big Ideas, Inc., Junior Achievement North - Greater Mankato Area, Farmamerica - MN Ag Interpretive Center, Sharing Our Roots, Sanford Health.
Wisconsin
American Red Cross Wisconsin Region, Baraboo Children's Museum, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc., REAP Food Group, The Gathering Source, Inc., Vernon Economic Development Association, Vernon Memorial Healthcare Foundation, Indianhead Community Action Agency, Feed My People Food Bank, Green County Development Corporation.
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 net earnings to support the Fund's focus areas of education, youth engagement, rural development and community enrichment, agricultural advocacy and development, and cooperative initiatives. 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 https://compeer.com/investing-in-rural-communities/giving-back.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $28.1 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 at https://compeer.com.
