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
ELM RIVER TOWNSHIP RECEIVES $165,000 FOR NEW FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT
EAST LANSING, Oct. 17, 2007 – USDA Rural Development Director for Michigan Gene DeRossett today presented a $165,000 ceremonial grant check to the Township of Elm River to help purchase a new pumper fire truck.
“Fire protection is an essential function of government,” said DeRossett. “This money will help Elm River Township meet that need and improve the quality of life for area residents.”
The money consists of a $133,000 loan and a $32,000 grant and will permit the replacement of a 37-year-old fire engine that is beyond its useful life.
The event is part of a series of ceremonies commemorating nearly $2 million in grants and loans this month for communities across the Upper Peninsula. So far this year, Upper Peninsula communities have received more than $18 million in grants and loans from USDA Rural Development.
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. Rural Development has invested more than $76.8 billion since the beginning of the Bush Administration to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. As a result, more than 1.5 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. 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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