MARQUETTE, MI-- The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently awarded grants to several U.P. projects.
The aim is to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure that benefits rural communities.
The grants were awarded as follows:
- City of Munising - $150,000
Infrastructure - Resurface 2,700 feet of Highway H-58 serving as primary access to the Neenah Paper Mill.
- Copper Peak Inc., of Ironwood - $125,000
Rural Capacity - Engineer the facility’s landing hill to install a permanent summer jumping surface to increase tourism opportunities year-round.
- Houghton County - $80,000
Infrastructure – Implement needed sewer repairs in the Houghton County Airpark, impacting more than 24 existing businesses.
- Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance, of Iron River - $22,140
Rural Capacity – Implement a four-part project: economic summit, website, tourism economic plan, and professional development, aimed to boost tourism and crucial resources for existing businesses.
- Michigamme Township - $26,500
Infrastructure – Certifying of an operator for the Township’s wastewater treatment facility.
- Northern Economic Initiatives Corporation, of Marquette - $50,000
Rural Capacity – Access and create strategies for 20 Central UP small businesses, particularly manufacturing, to improve their processes and profitability.
- Northern Michigan Geological Repository Association, of Marquette - $226,700
Rural Capacity – Purchase of a building to house a diamond drill core library and geological data for research.
- Slagles Family Farm, of Felch - $84,110
Business Development – Creation of a commercial kitchen, including needed equipment, cooler and cold storage.
- Superior Watershed Partnership, of Marquette - $75,200
Rural Capacity - Improved public access, hiking/biking trail systems, restoration of degraded natural areas and other related community-based tourism projects benefitting rural communities in Marquette, Alger and Delta counties.
- Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region Commission, of Houghton - $27,230
Rural Capacity - Conduct a feasibility study for a community photovoltaic solar generation system for the Village of L’Anse’s municipal electric utility.
For more information, go to michigan.gov/mdard.
