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
HILLSDALE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY CELEBRATES RIBBON-CUTTING FOR NEW FACILITY
EAST LANSING, Jan. 4, 2008 USDA Rural Development Director for Michigan Gene DeRossett today presented a $1,150,000 ceremonial loan and grant check at the ribbon cutting and open house for the new Community Action Agency and Head Start office building located at 55 Barnard St. in Hillsdale.
USDA Rural Development has a strong tradition of partnership with community action agencies, said DeRossett. This facility will help improve services and bring new opportunities into Hillsdale County.
The money consists of a $1,100,000 loan and a $50,000 grant that were used to build a new community action office building to house two Head Start classrooms, a child day care, a large motor play area, staff lounge, conference room, reception and office space. In addition, a commercial-type kitchen will provide meals for children enrolled in early childhood programs and other community service programs.
The facility replaces a crowded, obsolete structure that was increasingly expensive to maintain and was difficult to keep in compliance with licensing standards. Approximately 8,233 rural residents will benefit.
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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