More than $500K awarded to drive rural infrastructure, housing and workforce growth

Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity’s latest Rural Readiness Grant Program investments will position communities to secure additional funding for infrastructure, housing and workforce initiatives

Today, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Office of Rural Prosperity announced the recipients of round 4 of the Rural Readiness Grant Program funding in the amount of $509,200.

“This funding helps level the playing field for rural communities, giving them the tools they need to compete for economic opportunities just as strongly as larger urban areas,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “By investing in local projects that strengthen workforce, health, housing, infrastructure and economic development, we’re making sure every Michigander and community has the resources and support they need to thrive.”

The Rural Readiness Grant Program provides critical resources to communities that often face unique economic challenges, ensuring they have the support needed to attract investment, create jobs and foster sustainable growth. This funding enables local governments, nonprofits and economic development organizations to implement projects that enhance infrastructure, build housing and health initiatives, expand workforce development programs and promote long-term economic success.

Administered through LEO’s Office of Rural Prosperity, the Rural Readiness Grant Program aligns with the state’s commitment to ensuring all Michigan communities — regardless of size — have the tools needed to succeed in today’s economy.

To showcase how these funds support local communities, LEO’s partners at Resource Rural created a video to show how Keweenaw partners used their previous Rural Readiness Grant dollars to prepare for the future after experiencing a flood event in 2018, critically damaging local infrastructure. The community received a $50,000 Rural Readiness Grant to fund economic development, improve capacity and quality of life and prepare for future challenges the community could face.

The following communities and organizations have been selected:

GST Michigan Works!: Strengthens the rural Thumb Region’s workforce readiness and resiliency by expanding and formalizing an Employer-Led Collaborative to coordinate partners, address talent gaps and implement strategies for recruitment, retention, training and youth career pathways.

Networks Northwest: Builds a pipeline of future community and economic development leaders in Northwest Lower Michigan by training high school students for volunteer roles on local government boards and commissions through a structured curriculum delivered in partnership with schools and county planning departments.

Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region: Advances the redevelopment of the vacant former Winkler Nursing Home site in L’Anse by funding architectural designs, mechanical plans, cost estimates and renderings to prepare a locally supported, high-demand housing project in Baraga County.

Midland Business Alliance Foundation: Creates a publicly accessible digital inventory of 143 potential housing development sites across eight rural East Central Michigan counties to support the region’s efforts to address its significant housing shortage.

Gogebic Community College: Develops a countywide Economic Strategic Plan to launch a dedicated Economic Development Organization for Gogebic County, filling a longstanding coordination gap and positioning the region to pursue business growth, major projects and future opportunities with unified leadership.

Township of Eagle Harbor: Conducts a feasibility study and supporting planning activities to strengthen Keweenaw County’s development readiness, providing the data, tools and collaborative frameworks needed to pursue housing, infrastructure and investment opportunities and build long-term resiliency.

Huron County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority: Conducts Huron County’s first comprehensive Housing Readiness Study to assess demand, identify development barriers and priority sites and provide municipalities and developers with actionable data and strategies to guide zoning updates, attract investment and advance workforce and economic development.

Saugatuck Township: Assists with plans and preliminarily designs a segment of Saugatuck’s Blue Star Highway corridor to create pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, extend sanitary and storm systems and support attainable mixed-use and housing development, building readiness for construction funding and enhancing community resiliency.

Grow Benzie: Builds grant-writing capacity in Benzie County by providing individualized support, cohort-based training and standardized systems to help local organizations secure additional funding and develop local expertise in securing and managing large grants.

Village of Edwardsburg: Strengthens Edwardsburg’s long-term development readiness and community resiliency by adding grant writing capacity to pursue and manage new funding opportunities, and enable strategic investments in infrastructure, revitalization and other community priorities.

Upper Peninsula Economic Development Corporation: Builds capacity and resiliency in the Upper Peninsula by mentoring local professionals, expanding workforce support through a new temporary position and strengthening networks and knowledge-sharing to ensure rural communities are development-ready and able to meet critical housing needs.

For more information about the Rural Readiness Grant Program and other efforts to support Michigan’s rural communities, visit Michigan.gov/ORP.