Small Farm Fund Finder
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Private / NonprofitRolling / continuousTechnical assistanceNationwide

Cooperative Conversion & Worker-Ownership Assistance

Democracy at Work Institute / cooperative development centers

Technical assistance for farms and food businesses converting to worker or producer cooperative ownership — governance design, valuation, financing, and member agreements.

Typical award
Free to subsidized consulting; conversion financing referrals
Deadline
Rolling intake
Type of support
Technical assistance · Food hubs & infrastructure
Who can apply
Other, Non-profit, Individual producer
Fits these operations
Value-added & food business, Mixed / diversified, Vegetables & produce

Am I eligible?

  • Existing business exploring cooperative or employee ownership
  • Or a group of producers forming a new co-op
  • Owner willing to share financials for a valuation

How to apply

  1. 1Contact the institute or your regional cooperative development center
  2. 2Complete a feasibility conversation about ownership structure
  3. 3Work through valuation, governance, and financing options
  4. 4Execute conversion documents with co-op counsel

What you'll need

  • Three years of business financials
  • Employee or member roster
  • Current ownership and entity documents

Timeline & contact

6–18 months for a full conversion
Get help: Democracy at Work Institute; USDA-funded Rural Cooperative Development Centers

Ready to apply?

Applications go through Democracy at Work Institute / cooperative development centers, not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

Open official page

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

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