Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, has awarded 12 General Use Grants, totaling $69,600 to Wisconsin community organizations. These grants fund initiatives and organizations whose work aligns with Compeer Financial’s mission by enriching agriculture and rural America.
The funding will directly impact the lives of 18,415 people. Grant recipients fall under one of the following categories:
- 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.
Since 2018, the Fund for Rural America has awarded 519 grants throughout Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, totaling $3 million in local support.
The Wisconsin organizations receiving support from the General Use Grant Program include:
- CESA 3: equipment for agriculture, food and natural resources careers education
- Church Health Services, Inc.: dental and mental health services
- Columbus FFA Alumni: electrical, plumbing, heating and structural repairs to school greenhouse
- Couleecap, Inc.: technical assistance for small businesses
- Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership: Wisconsin Youth Leadership Seminar
- Marbleseed: addressing language access gap with resource materials
- Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, Inc. dba Entrepreneur Fund: business consultant and technical assistance for small businesses
- Scenic Bluffs Health Care Inc.: completing renovations and equipping a mobile dental unit
- School District of Wisconsin Dells – Brew Farm: barn fans and new barn doors
- Shepherds Ministries: essential equipment for student success
- The Swap and Shop Inc.: chest freezer and display cooler
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville: precision agriculture equipment for data analysis
Applications will open in May 2025 for summer 2025 Compeer Financial General Use Grants.
