NEWS
RELEASE
United States Department
of Agriculture • Rural Development
3001 Coolidge Rd. • 2nd Floor North • Suite 200 • East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: (517) 324-5204 • Fax: (517) 324-5225 •
alec.lloyd@mi.usda.gov
Contact: Alec Lloyd
(517) 324-5204
Benzonia Farmers Market open for business thanks to USDA Rural Development
EAST LANSING, July 29, 2010 – The Benzonia Farmers Market is doing a brisk business this summer thanks to a $40,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
“USDA Rural Development is seeking new opportunities and new markets for Michigan farmers,” said USDA Rural Development Director for Michigan James Turner. “Improving the rural economy essential to Michigan’s recovery and we are helping, one community at a time.”
Grow Benzie used the grant funds to make improvements to the farm market building and to increase parking and improve access to the site. The market provides a new marketing and sales opportunity for local growers and producers and has received broad community support.
The market is located on M-115 and is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure, and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in the nation’s capital and 500 state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $134 billion in loans and loan guarantees.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).