Michigan State Director James J. Turner

Welcome to the USDA Rural Development Web Site for Michigan.  Rural Development’s mission under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in rural America.  We achieve our mission by helping rural individuals, communities and businesses obtain the financial and technical assistance needed to address their diverse and unique needs.  In the first term of the Obama  administration our goal was to reach out to stakeholders who share our mission of assisting those in need, in building our rural communities, and making sure our rural areas have strong, vibrant dynamic businesses that are innovating, and competing globally.  We will continue those efforts in this term.

In the last four years, Rural Development has invested over $4 billion  in Michigan; supporting rural housing, building community infrastructure and supporting small businesses.  With our resources and flexible programs, we work with local communities to encourage people to live, work, raise families and establish businesses in Michigan. We are "Committed to the future of rural communities” and will continue to maintain a dedicated presence in our rural communities.

I look forward to partnering with you to build an even better Michigan.