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 Rural Development in Michigan Releases Annual Progress Report
EAST LANSING, April 11, 2011 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director James J. Turner today announced the release of the Fiscal Year 2010 annual progress report for the agency. The document covers USDA Rural Development’s activity from Oct. 1, 2009 to Sept. 30, 2010 and is available online at the agency’s Michigan Web site: www.rurdev.usda.gov/mi.
“Rural Development is playing a key role in revitalizing Michigan’s economy.” Turner said. “This report documents how our agency is helping rural residents.”
In FY 2010, USDA Rural Development invested more than $1.2 billion in rural communities across the state. The amount included $142 million in loans, loan guarantees and grants for business and cooperatives, $183.5 million for critical community infrastructure and $120 million to expand access to broadband internet. The agency also helped nearly 8,000 Michigan families buy or repair a home.
The report provides examples ranging from individual homes to entire communities and describes projects from across the state, including Traverse City, Romulus, Beaverton, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Mackinac County and the Saginaw Valley.
Through its Rural Development mission area, USDA administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs. 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 nearly $146 billion in loans and loan guarantees.
#
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).