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
WESTERN U.P. COMMUNITIES RECEIVE $89,000 FROM USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT
EAST LANSING, Oct. 18, 2007 – USDA Rural Development Director for Michigan Gene DeRossett today presented ceremonial checks totally $89,000 to the Hannahville Indian Community, Republic-Michigamme School District, City of Iron River and City of Gladstone.
“Today’s events demonstrate the variety of projects that USDA Rural Development can support,” said DeRossett. “They range from playground equipment to police cars to business enterprise grants, but all of them are united by the common goal of increasing opportunity in rural Michigan.”
The Republic-Michigamme School District received a $14,000 grant check for playground equipment. It will be used by the pre-school program.
The City of Iron River received $44,000 grant check for a new backup power generator for the city’s emergency services.
The City of Gladstone received a $9,000 grant check for a new police vehicle.
The event is part of a series of ceremonies commemorating nearly $2 million in grants and loans this month for communities across the Upper Peninsula. So far this year, Upper Peninsula communities have received more than $18 million in grants and loans from USDA Rural Development.
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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