Grant Awarded to Develop Economic Development Strategy for M-66 Corridor in Lake City

Janaury 8, 2024

Networks Northwest has received a $28,300 Rural Readiness Grant to create an economic development strategy for the M-66 corridor in Lake City and nearby townships. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) Office of Rural Prosperity awarded a total of $852,000 to support 19 different rural community projects across Michigan’s ten Prosperity Regions. The grant provides rural communities with up to $50,000 to support collaborative planning and capacity initiatives. These competitive, reimbursement grants support and invest in underserved areas and populations by providing reimbursement grant funding for capacity building activities, development readiness initiatives, partnership and plan formation and cross sector collaboration.

“Michigan’s rural communities play an integral role in our economy,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “These funds will allow communities across Michigan to complete projects that provide vital resources to help their residents thrive.”

The 19 projects supported by the Rural Readiness Grant Program will address needs related to childcare; housing, development readiness, health and emergency preparedness; non-motorized transportation infrastructure; and general capacity-building activities for local, county and tribal governments, nonprofits, economic development organizations, community foundations, regional planning agencies and health service providers across the state.

“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.”