Grant will advance export activities as a cohesive economic strategy

 Written by: Daniel Smith, Cooperative Network President & CEO

Cooperative Network is pleased to be among 13 organizations recently selected to receive an Export Expansion Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). The grants, funded by the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports, are aimed at accelerating the growth of Wisconsin dairy, meat, and crop products – agricultural sectors strongly represented by cooperatives – by increasing agricultural exports.

Cooperative Network, which received a $50,000 grant, plans to utilize use the funds to develop a new agriculture export education portal on our existing website; incorporate export education and awareness into Cooperative Network seminars, webinars and conferences; and direct cooperatives to export education and training events.

As noted in a press release announcing the grant award, Cooperative Network is the only statewide organization that supports, educates, and engages equally with cooperatives across all sectors, which places us in the unique and valuable position of being able to advance export activities as a cohesive economic strategy for Wisconsin. And, because cooperatives rely on us for guidance on industry trends, incorporating export activities into our messaging will be a valuable addition to our cooperative services.

Read the full article here.