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Michigan invests $1.8 million to modernize infrastructure, bolster food systems, and support renewable energy across rural communities.
Rural Development Grants Drive Infrastructure Renewal
LANSING, Mich. — In a move aimed squarely at revitalizing rural Michigan, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has awarded over $1.8 million in grants to 21 local projects across the state. These Rural Development Fund Grants will support everything from solar installations to safe drinking water access, food security initiatives, and economic growth in land-based industries like farming and forestry.
“These grants don’t just fund projects — they support resilience and opportunity in communities that often get overlooked,” said Tim Boring, Director of MDARD. “This is about building up the backbone of Michigan’s economy — our rural places.”
Backed by Public Act 411 of 2012, the program prioritizes counties with populations under 70,000, particularly targeting Marquette County, and supports sustainability in key land-based sectors. This year’s recipients reflect a wide array of needs — and creative local solutions — unfolding across Michigan’s diverse geography.
Solar Power, Safe Water, and Sewer Overhauls Take Priority
Among the top-ticket items: $100,000 to Northern Michigan University for a rooftop solar array that will power the campus WellBeing Center, an energy-saving step that aligns with statewide pushes toward renewables. The City of Ishpeming is also using its funds to install solar-powered camping sites, combining tourism and sustainability.
Water quality and reliability were front and center in several Upper Peninsula projects. Ely Township, Negaunee/Ishpeming Water Authority, and the City of Negaunee all received grants to overhaul aging water and sewer systems, safeguarding clean drinking water and preventing system failures.
“These projects often don’t grab headlines, but they’re essential to daily life and long-term sustainability,” said Eric Scorsone, director of the MSU Extension Center for Local Government Finance and Policy, in a separate interview with Bridge Michigan regarding rural infrastructure investment. “Investing in rural areas is about maintaining public health, economic competitiveness, and basic quality of life.”
Food Access and Local Economies Get Strategic Support
A notable trend in this year’s grants is support for food-based projects that strengthen local supply chains and expand access to fresh produce. The Cassopolis Community Garden received funds to install an irrigation system that will increase its output for area food pantries. Meanwhile, Lakeshore Depot L3C in Marquette is building out a local food distribution network to connect farms to institutional buyers and consumers.
One innovative recipient, RADD Foods, will use its $40,380 grant to develop dairy-free cheese products aimed at the restaurant industry, signaling growth in Michigan’s specialty food sector.
In Buckley, Pahl Enterprises plans to invest in its agritourism operation by upgrading facilities and educational spaces, while Gypsy Distillery in Petoskey is expanding with a new bottling line to increase production and create new jobs.
Grant Program Anchored in Community Impact
What ties these 21 diverse projects together is a focus on community-level transformation. Whether it’s expanding a meat processor’s packaging capacity in Ubly, renovating a children’s museum in Menominee, or enhancing training programs at the Great Lakes Boat Building School, the projects represent targeted investments with ripple effects.
“These types of grants are critical because they’re flexible and community-driven,” said Laura DeLind, a retired Michigan State University anthropologist who has written extensively on community-based food systems. In a 2011 interview with Edible WOW Magazine, DeLind emphasized the importance of investing in local food infrastructure to build sustainable, community-led economies.
Priority was given to projects in Marquette County, in line with statutory guidance. Altogether, the grants span both peninsulas and touch on economic development, public health, and workforce training.
MDARD Grant Awards
| Grant Recipient | Location | Project Description | Grant Amount ($USD) |
| K.I. Sawyer Water Wastewater Department | Gwinn | Ensure continued safe operation of the aeration building at K.I. Sawyer Wastewater Treatment Plant | $100,000.00 |
| Ely Township | Ishpeming | Build new wellhouse and implement new water treatment system | $100,000.00 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Install rooftop solar project at NMU WellBeing Center | $100,000.00 |
| City of Negaunee | Negaunee | Replace sewer main and failing sewer lines | $100,000.00 |
| Superior Hills Association of Parents and Educators | Marquette | Renovate Superior Hills playground | $100,000.00 |
| TCA Management, LLC | Caro | Hire 4 employees and purchase new FM200C 2G Dual Wash plant | $100,000.00 |
| Pahl Enterprises, LLC | Buckley | Enhance farm’s facilities and improve barn structure | $100,000.00 |
| Gypsy Distillery | Petoskey | Install new bottling line | $91,744.00 |
| Lakeshore Depot L3C | Marquette | Implement local food distribution project | $65,448.00 |
| Maurer Meat Processors, LLC | Ubly | Upgrade shrink-wrap heat tunnel system for meat packaging | $96,350.00 |
| Partridge Creek Farm | Ishpeming | Expand Ishpeming Intergenerational Community Farm | $100,000.00 |
| Home Township | Edmore | Reconstruct Neff Road and seal Edgar Road | $100,000.00 |
| Cassopolis Community Garden | Cassopolis | Install irrigation system for community garden | $770.00 |
| Great Lakes Boat Building School | Cedarville | Create Marine System Lab Pods training program | $52,500.00 |
| Negaunee/Ishpeming Water Authority | Ishpeming | Install new water well for Negaunee/Ishpeming Water Authority | $100,000.00 |
| Charter Township of Chocolay | Marquette | Fund sewer repair and remediation | $100,000.00 |
| M&M Children’s Museum | Menominee | Construct and renovate M&M Children’s Museum | $100,000.00 |
| RADD Foods | Marquette | Develop dairy-free cheese products | $40,380.00 |
| Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation | Owosso | Move track switch and extend dead-end siding | $100,000.00 |
| Indian Summer Cooperative, Inc. | Ludington | Install new applesauce cup packing and palletizing equipment | $100,000.00 |
| City of Ishpeming | Ishpeming | Create camping sites with solar power | $82,977.00 |
How to Apply and Who’s Eligible for Future Funding
The grant program is open to entities in counties with fewer than 70,000 residents or those designated as micropolitan statistical areas. Applications are handled through the MiAgGrants system, and the selection process is competitive. Businesses, local governments, and nonprofits are all eligible, though proposals in Marquette County receive additional consideration.
More information and eligibility guidelines can be found at michigan.gov/mdardgrants.
Sources
- Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Press Release, April 17, 2025
- Scorsone, Eric. “Michigan’s Aging Water Systems Need Attention.” Bridge Michigan, August 3, 2022. https://www.bridgemi.com
- DeLind, Laura. Interview by Lisa Howard. “The Case for Local Food Systems.” Edible WOW, Summer 2011. https://ediblewow.ediblecommunities.com
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