LANSING — The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Rural Prosperity has awarded $852,000 to support 19 projects statewide through the Rural Readiness Grant Program, including $20,000 for the city of Crystal Falls.

The competitive grant program provides communities with up to $50,000 to support collaborative planning and capacity initiatives. Crystal Falls will use its funds to advance a possible new housing development on city property.

Other awards benefiting the Upper Peninsula include:

— Upper Peninsula Health Care Solutions Inc., $50,000 to establish a network of behavioral health care providers, hospitals, clinics, health departments, tribal health care organizations and third-party payers to evaluate and develop a region-wide solution to behavioral and mental health care access issues for U.P. residents.

— Great Lakes Recovery Centers, $50,000 to develop a property site in Sault Ste. Marie for Women’s New Hope House, a residential treatment center.

— Superior Watershed Partnership, $50,000 to provide education for promoting sustainable nature tourism; identify, prioritize and restore degraded natural areas; and increase disaster response training for several partners/stakeholder groups in Alger, Baraga and Marquette counties.

— Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Department, $50,000 to develop plans for a brick-and-mortar Keweenaw County Emergency Response Center.

— City of Hancock, $50,000 for a feasibility study and environmental assessment for redevelopment of five sites that were owned by the former Finlandia University.

— Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development, $50,000 for a pilot model addressing economic resiliency in several Michigan counties, including Baraga.

“Rural communities need to plan for projects that will address complex challenges like housing shortages and health access, but often lack the funding or staff resources to do so,” said Sarah Lucas, director of the Office of Rural Prosperity. “The Rural Readiness Grant Program invests in underserved areas across the state to help them prepare for solutions to a wide range of needs. We’re excited to see these projects lead the way to positive change for Michigan residents.”