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
USDA Visits Businesses, Partners in Northern Michigan
EAST LANSING, July 25, 2012 – U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner and Business Program Administrator John Padalino today attended the HUB Zone meeting in Traverse City and visited sites in Cheboygan and Mackinaw City to highlight how the agency is helping rural businesses.
“This is a great opportunity to see the many ways Rural Development is helping revitalize Michigan’s economy,” said Padalino. “Rural communities are unique, and the diversity of our partners in northern Michigan demonstrates that our programs have the flexibility to meet their needs.”
In the morning, Padalino addressed a gathering of local businesses and community leaders at the HUB Zone meeting hosted by Michigan Works and supported by the Small Business Administration.
In the afternoon, Padalino visited the Brook of Cheboygan, an assisted living facility that received a $4 million loan guarantee in 2009 and created 20 jobs.
The tour also included Mackinaw Crossings in Mackinaw City, which benefited from a $7.3 million loan guarantee to the owner, Wehr Family LLC, in early 2012. The loan provided stable long-term financing helping to save 60 jobs at the owner-operated businesses and 208 jobs in tenant businesses.
The day closed with a visit to Bay Mills Community College in Brimley. The college has received 11 Rural Development Tribal College grants totaling $2,095,211.
Visits on Thursday, July 26 are:
·
9 a.m. -
Business Roundtable at Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle St.
Presented in partnership with Northern Initiatives.
·
11 a.m. -
Marquette Food Cooperative 109 W. Baraga Ave., in Marquette.
·
2:30 p.m. –
Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, 500 Main St., in Manistique. The hospital
received a $19 million Community Facility Direct Loan in 2011.
·
4:30 p.m. -
Industrial Maintenance Service, Inc., 1920 20th Avenue North, in
Escanaba. IMS received a $950,000 guaranteed loan in 2005.
· 5 p.m. (Central Time) – Spies Public Library, 2511 10th St., in Menominee. The library received a $300,000 Community Facility Direct Loan earlier this year for repairs.
USDA Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009. USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of 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 $170 billion in loans and loan guarantees. Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov for additional information about the agency’s programs or to locate the USDA Rural Development office nearest you.
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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 Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).