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 HELPS PURCHASE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FOR OWENDALE/GAGETOWN AREA SCHOOLS
East Lansing, May 23, 2007 – USDA Rural Development Director for Michigan Gene DeRossett today presented a $5,600 ceremonial grant check to Owendale/Gagetown Area Schools to help purchase new playground equipment.
“The value of this project goes beyond mere dollar amounts,” DeRossett said. “I hope that we take the time to hear the laughter and joy that this equipment will bring to our children.”
The playground equipment was funded through a Community Facility grant. The total cost of the project is $16,000, with the remaining $10,400 generated from local funds.
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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