By Andi Anderson
Betty Dirksen Londrigan, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Cooperative Service, will be visiting several USDA-funded projects across northern and western Michigan on Tuesday, September 10, and Wednesday, September 11.
She will be joined by Brandon Fewins, USDA Rural Development State Director for Michigan. The visits will highlight ongoing rural development projects, with media invited to attend for interview opportunities.
On Tuesday, Londrigan will start her tour at Commongrounds Cooperative in Traverse City. This cooperative, located at 414 East Eighth St., will host the visit from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Following this, she will visit Lakeview Hill Farms in Traverse City from 1 to 2 p.m. Lakeview Hill Farms recently received a $250,000 Value Added Producer Grant to expand its sales of organic flowers and vegetables.
Later in the day, Londrigan will visit the Sleeping Bear Inn in Glen Arbor from 3 to 4 p.m. The historic inn, located at 5248 Glen Haven Rd., received a USDA Guaranteed Business Loan to reopen after being closed for over 50 years.
The following day, Wednesday, September 11, Londrigan will visit Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon from 9 to 11 a.m. Adelaide Pointe has secured multiple USDA Guaranteed Business Loans to develop a marina, complete with docks, dry boat storage, and a public fishing pier.
In the afternoon, the tour continues at Aldea Coffee in Muskegon from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Aldea Coffee was awarded a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to install a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system.
The day’s visits will conclude at Trinity Equipment in Muskegon, where Londrigan will tour the facility from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Trinity Equipment also received a REAP grant to install a ground-mounted solar array, demonstrating the USDA’s support for renewable energy in rural areas.
These visits showcase the USDA's commitment to supporting rural businesses, promoting sustainable energy initiatives, and fostering economic growth in Michigan's rural communities.
Each project highlights the impactful role USDA funding plays in developing local businesses and enhancing infrastructure across the state.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Michigan, Government & Policy