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
BENTON HARBOR AREA BENEFITS FROM USDA INVESTMENTS
EAST LANSING, June 17, 2008 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Director for Michigan Gene DeRossett today presented an $80,000 grant check to Cornerstone Alliance to help new small business opportunities in the Benton Harbor area.
USDA Rural Development is pleased to renew its commitment to southwest Michigan, DeRossett said. These grants are investments in future economic growth and improved quality of life for rural residents.
The money consists of two Rural Business Enterprise Grants of $40,000 each. One grant will be used to determine if a small business incubator is feasible in Benton Harbor and, if so, to develop a business plan. The other will be used to study the effect that the new Harbor Shores development will have on downtown Benton Harbor and determine how the city can best position itself to take advantage of this economic opportunity to spur small business development.
The presentation took place in the Watervliet Ramada Inn, which was made possible by a 2006 USDA Rural Development RBEG of $85,000 for critical infrastructure.
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/.
#