LUCE COUNTY, NEWBERRY RECEIVE $615,000 FROM USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT

EAST LANSING, Oct. 27, 2009 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Director for Michigan James Turner today presented ceremonial checks totaling $615,000 to Luce County and the Village of Newberry.

“This has been another record-setting year for USDA Rural Development,” said Turner.  “I am proud to be helping Upper Peninsula residents improve their quality of life.”

Luce County received a $15,000 grant for a new transport van.

The Village of Newberry received a $300,000 loan to continue water system upgrades.  More than 5,000 feet of deteriorated, leaking and undersized water main will be replaced.  The village is receiving and additional $750,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to complete the work.  USDA Rural Development provided $2.3 million in loans for an earlier phase of construction.

The events are part of a series of ceremonies commemorating $12.5 million in grants and loans this month for communities across the Upper Peninsula.  This past year, Rural Development invested a record-setting $1 billion in Michigan’s rural communities.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development and supports the creation of critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting www.rurdev.usda.gov.  

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