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LANSING -- Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is offering a competitive grant program to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure benefiting rural communities in Michigan.
"Our rural communities are a fundamental part of Michigan's food and agriculture industry. Governor Whitmer and I are committed to providing the support and resources to help increase resiliency and success in those communities," MDARD Director Tim Boring said. "The Rural Development Grant prioritizes sustainability for land-based industries and provides the crucial infrastructure needed for our rural areas to grow and thrive for years to come."
The Rural Development Fund grants are available for projects addressing expansion and sustainability of land-based industries; worker training related to land-based industries; and energy, transportation, housing, communications, water, and wastewater infrastructure to benefit rural communities and micropolitan statistical areas.
Land-based industries include food and agriculture, forestry, mining, oil and gas production and tourism. Eligible counties include those with a population no greater than 70,000 residents or micropolitan statistical areas. For a complete list of eligible counties, go to www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants.
The total amount of funding available during this grant cycle is $2 million. The maximum limit that can be requested for a project grant is $100,000 with all proposals requiring a minimum 30% cash match of the grant amount being requested. Applicants for grant funds must describe how the project will impact and produce measurable outcomes for rural communities around land-based industries. The proposals will be evaluated through a competitive process.
Those interested in applying for the grant program should go to www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants to view the program details. All applications must be submitted through the MiAgGrants system. All applicants are required to submit three letters of support.
MDARD will host an informational webinar on this grant opportunity at 10 a.m. Eastern time Thursday. More information on the webinar is located on the website.
Any additional communications concerning this Request for Proposal should be sent to mda-grants@michigan.gov.
Proposals must be received online through the MiAgGrants system no later than 5 p.m. Eastern time Dec. 5. Proposals received after deadline will not be considered.
The Rural Development Fund grants are funded by the Nonferrous Metallic Minerals Extraction Severance Tax.
For more information on the MDARD Grants Program, go to www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants or email to MDA-Grants@michigan.gov.