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
WESTERN U.P. COMMUNITIES RECEIVE EMERGENCY VEHICLES FROM USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT
EAST LANSING, June 26, 2008 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Director for Michigan Gene DeRossett today presented ceremonial checks totaling more than $218,000 to communities across the western Upper Peninsula for emergency vehicles and equipment.
Since 2001, USDA Rural Development has helped Upper Peninsula communities purchase 60 police vehicles and more than three dozen fire engines, said DeRossett. There is no question that we are making a significant contribution to improving public safety for rural residents.
DeRossett hosted two morning ceremonies, one in Iron Mountain and the other in Iron River, and an afternoon event in Watersmeet.
At the Iron Mountain event, Dickinson County received $17,000 for two patrol cars and the City of Kingsford received $8,000 for a police vehicle. In Iron River, the City of Caspian received $22,000 for police and fire equipment, the City of Iron River received $20,000 for a police patrol car, the Iron County Sheriff Dept. received $12,000 for a police patrol car and the City of Crystal Falls received $20,000 for a police patrol car.
In the afternoon, DeRossett presented an $119,000 loan and grant check to Watersmeet Township for a Pierce Contender 12 rescue vehicle built on a 2008 GMC 5500 chassis. It has fire-fighting capability, the Jaws of Life and a portable winch.
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/.
#