WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development awarded 22 Rural Development Fund Grants – including one to a local entity – to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure to benefit rural communities.
MDARD Director Tim Boring said the agency received 78 proposals with requests totaling more than $6.3 million. Of those, MDARD awarded more than $1.8 million, leveraging a match of more than $1.6 million.
Boring said $100,000 went to Cass County to develop a countywide, parcel-level, GIS-based map of broadband availability. It will be used to develop a specific, actionable plan to bring broadband infrastructure to all unserved and underserved parcels.
Grant funds are aimed to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support workforce training, rural capacity building, business development and infrastructure that benefits rural communities.
