Tuesay, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Lapeer County Road Commission will receive $1.3 million for upgrades to Shaw Road in Goodland Township that will support the region's industrial and large-scale, farming operations as part of a U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant program.
"This $1.3 million investment in Lapeer County's agriculture sector will support good-paying jobs, boost the region's economy, and help Michigan continue growing world-class produce to feed the world," said Whitmer. "The bipartisan state budget I recently signed, also makes a game-changing investment in food and agriculture economic development, empowering local small businesses and building on this grant. I will work with anyone to grow Michigan's economy, create good-paying jobs, and invest in every region of our state.
This project will create and retain hundreds of jobs by allowing for increased commercial vehicle capacity in support of business expansion and economic resilience on a vital access route to the Detroit area. Additionally, this investment will deliver important infrastructure upgrades to Lapeer County that will support the critical agricultural sector of the community, including building economic resiliency in the region for decades to come. This investment will be matched with $335,882 in local funds and is expected to create 75 jobs, retain 226 jobs, and generate $6 million in private investments, according to grantee estimates.
"President Biden's American Rescue Plan offers direct relief to American communities as they work to build a better America for the future," said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. "This EDA investment will strengthen the food supply chain in Southeast Michigan and enhance business capacity in the region, helping to boost U.S. competitiveness on the global stage."
This project is funded under EDA's American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program, which makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance grants available to American communities. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDA's most flexible program, and grants made under this program will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work. Effective May 26, EDA has officially closed all American Rescue Plan programs for applications. The $3 billion program funding will be awarded on a rolling basis through Sept. 30.
Whitmer's actions to foster economic growth in rural communities include:
- Created and fully funded the Office of Rural Development to address the unique challenges that face rural communities.
- Signed bills to boost the food and agriculture industry by ensuring Michigan food and agriculture businesses can export their products to other nations.
- Secured more than $50 million for food and agriculture economic development projects.
- Signed budgets that invested in local economic development projects centered around the food and agriculture industries, and community revitalization and placemaking grants to support economic development in rural communities.
- Launched a 'Buy Michigan' marketing campaign to highlight Michigan growers and agricultural products.
- Invested over $53 million in Michigan State University's dairy center and greenhouses.
- Invested $15 million into the Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant Program and Small Farm Safety Grant Programs to support farmers and food processors during COVID-19.
- Opened the hemp market to Michigan's producers, bringing a new commodity to Michigan's diverse agricultural market.
- Requested federal relief and signed a bill authorizing $15M in loans for farmers reeling from crop loss and damage during one of the rainiest years in state history.
Categories: Michigan, Business