USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCES $12.5 MILLION FOR U.P. COMMUNITIES

EAST LANSING, Oct. 19, 2009 – USDA Rural Development Director for Michigan James Turner will host a series of ceremonies commemorating $12,545,000 in grants and loans for communities across the Upper Peninsula. 

The events are open to the general public and everyone is welcome to attend. 

The list below indicates the date, time, location, recipients and award amount of the presentation. 

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 27^th                     Time:  3 p.m. EDT
Location: Luce County Courthouse, 411 W. Harrie St. in Newberry.
Luce County will receive a $15,000 ceremonial grant check for a transport van.

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 27^th                     Time:  3:30 p.m. EDT
Location: 307 E. McMillan Ave., in Newberry.
Village of Newberry will receive a $300,000 ceremonial loan check for its water system.

Date:  Wednesday, Oct. 28^th               Time:  9 a.m. EDT
Location:  Meyer Township Hall, in Hermansville.
Meyer Township will receive a $300,000 ceremonial loan check for its sewer system.

Date:  Wednesday, Oct. 28^th               Time:  11 a.m. EDT
Location:  Norway Fire Hall, W1720 US-2, in Norway.
Dickinson County will receive an $18,000 ceremonial grant check for two police vehicles, the City of Iron Mountain will receive a $11,000 ceremonial grant check for a police car and thermal image camera and the City of Norway will receive a $13,000 ceremonial grant check for a police car. 

Date:  Wednesday, Oct. 28^th               Time:  2 p.m. EDT
Location:  Village Hall, in Alpha.
The Village of Alpha will receive a $1,204,000 ceremonial loan and grant check for its sewer system.

Date:  Wednesday, Oct. 28^th               Time:  3:30 p.m. EDT
Location:  Iron County Courthouse, 2 South Sixth St., in Crystal Falls.
Iron County will receive an $11,000 ceremonial grant check for an animal control vehicle.

Date:  Thursday, Oct. 29^th                   Time:  8 a.m. EDT
Location:  Houghton City Hall, in Houghton.
The City of Houghton will receive a $3,443,000 ceremonial loan and grant check for its water and sewer systems.

Date:  Thursday, Oct. 29^th                   Time:  9 a.m. EDT
Location:  Ripley Fire Hall, 2^nd St., in Hancock.
Franklin Township will receive a $2,683,000 ceremonial loan and grant check for its sewer system.

Date:  Thursday, Oct. 29^th                   Time:  10:30 a.m. EDT
Location:  Calumet Township Coliseum, 110 Red Jacket Rd., in Calumet.
The Village of Laurium will receive a $13,000 ceremonial grant check for a police vehicle and the Village of Calumet will receive a $20,000 ceremonial grant check for a police car. 

Date:  Thursday, Oct. 29^th                   Time:  1:30 p.m. EDT
Location:  Baraga Village Hall, 100 Hemlock St., in Baraga.
Baraga Township will receive a $193,000 ceremonial loan and grant check for a fire truck, the Village of Baraga will receive a $19,000 ceremonial grant check for a police car, the Village of L’Anse will receive a $13,000 ceremonial grant check for a police car and Bay Ambulance will receive a $14,000 ceremonial grant check for EMS equipment.

Date:  Thursday, Oct. 29^th                   Time:  4:30 p.m. EDT
Location:  Richmond Township, 510 Nicholas Ave., in Palmer.
Richmond Township will receive a $4,275,000 ceremonial loan and grant check for its sewer and water systems.

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. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development provides equity, liquidity, and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. 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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