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
CENTRAL MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES RECEIVE $500,000 FROM USDA
EAST LANSING, Nov. 25, 2008 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Director for Michigan Gene DeRossett today presented more than $500,000 in grants and loans to communities in Clare, Ogemaw and Roscommon counties.
In tough economic times, USDA Rural Development is working with rural Michigan communities, said DeRossett. From helping residents improve their housing to enhanced public safety, Rural Development is there to help.
Ogemaw County received a Community Facilities grant of $37,000 for three police patrol vehicles and a Housing Preservation Grant of $23,936 to help qualifying residents make necessary home improvements.
Houghton Lake Community Schools received a $12,000 Community Facilities grant for new playground equipment.
Mid Michigan Community Action Agency received $442,936 consisting of:
- A $400,000 Community Facilities loan to purchase and rehabilitate a food storage warehouse,
- A $19,000 Community Facilities grant to remodel the playground at the Farwell Child Care, including rubber mulch, concrete bike paths and age-appropriate playground equipment, and
- A Housing Preservation Grant of $23,936 to help qualifying residents make necessary home improvements.
In addition, Lincoln Township received a $3,000 grant to purchase an emergency generator.
USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development provides equity, liquidity, and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.
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