Michigan awards grants for rural development, infrastructure projects

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has awarded 16 Rural Development Fund Grants. Eligible counties include those with a population no greater than 60,000 residents or micropolitan statistical areas.The department received 66 proposals with requests totaling nearly $5.1 million. Of those, MDARD awarded 16 projects totaling $1,245,500, leveraging a match of more than $1.5 million.The grant funds, Public Act 411 of 2012, are aimed to promote the sustainability of land-based industries — food and agriculture; forestry; mining, oil and gas production; and tourism — and support workforce training, rural capacity building, business development and infrastructure that benefits rural communities.