CoBank awards $1.9 million in grants to support economic development in rural America

DENVER (July 21, 2026) – CoBank, a cooperative bank serving agribusinesses, rural infrastructure providers and Farm Credit associations throughout the United States, today announced that it has awarded $1.9 million in unrestricted grants to nine non-profit organizations which serve as development hubs in their local regions.

CoBank’s Rural Prosperity Grant Program was established in 2025 and promotes economic development in the nation’s rural areas. Grantees offer a variety of services that address critical issues in key areas of entrepreneurship and business development, leadership and civic engagement, economic development and rural infrastructure as well as rural health and well-being.

“CoBank is excited to continue our Rural Prosperity Grant Program as part of our broader commitment to supporting rural America. The program has attracted significant attention from national rural development leaders and funders, setting a new standard for how philanthropy can support long-term rural economic resilience and community impact,” said Leslie Hagele, CoBank’s vice president of corporate social responsibility. “We’re pleased to continue supporting this work and to share insights and outcomes from across our network of rural partners.”

The 2026 grant recipients are:

• Appalachian Center for Economic Networks, serving Central Appalachia including Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virgina and West Virgina
• Center for Rural Affairs, serving Nebraska (statewide) with regional presence in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota
• Communities Unlimited, serving seven states across the rural South including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas
• Kansas Health Foundation, serving rural communities across Kansas
• Local First Arizona, serving rural communities across 13 of 15 Arizona counties, including Tribal Nations
• Northern Forest Center, serving Northern Forest Region including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York
• Rural Community Assistance Corp., serving 13 western states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming
• Rural Development Initiatives, serving rural communities across the Pacific Northwest including Oregon, Washington and Idaho
• Southwest Initiative Foundation, serving 18 counties and two Tribal Nations in Southwest Minnesota

About CoBank

CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving almost 80,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.