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
Morton Township Celebrates Library Groundbreaking Thanks to USDA Rural Development Funding
EAST LANSING, May 16, 2011 U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner today joined local officials at a ceremonial ground breaking for the Morton Township library in Mecosta.
In an increasingly knowledge-based economy, libraries have taken on a new importance, Turner said. This is an excellent example of how USDA Rural Development is working to make Michigan communities stronger and better places to live.
USDA Rural Development provided a $2.8 million loan and $200,000 grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The new structure will total 13,709 square feet, an increase of 8,800 square feet over the existing facility. Improvements include geothermal heating, 16 additional computer workstations for patrons, and more parking. The library also will also house three public meeting rooms.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in Washington, D.C, and 500 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 $134 billion in loans and loan guarantees.
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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 Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).