The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) is offering a grant opportunity to projects that address expansion and sustainability of land-based industries; worker training related to land-based industries; and energy, transportation, communications, water, and wastewater infrastructure to benefit rural communities and micropolitan statistical areas.

Eligible counties include those with a population no greater than 70,000 residents or micropolitan statistical areas.

• Maximum $100,000 grant
• Minimum 30% match required

• Individuals
• Organizations
• Businesses
• Municipal Government (county, city, township, village, school district; any authority composed of counties, cities, townships, villages and school districts or combination of these entities)
• Federally Recognized Tribes
• Educational Institutions

Projects in the following counties are eligible rural (70,000 population or less) or Micropolitan statistical areas:

Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Benzie, Branch, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Emmet, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Huron, Ionia, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Kalkaska, Keweenaw, Lake, Leelanau, Lenawee, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw , Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon

Projects or applicants in the following counties are NOT eligible for grant funding:

Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, Saint Clair, Van Buren, Washtenaw, and Wayne.

State agencies are NOT eligible for grant funding.

Indirect costs are NOT allowed under this grant program. Indirect costs are defined as the expenses of doing business that are not readily identified within the project but are necessary for the general operation of the organization and the implementation of proposal-related activities.

• Source (wells and intakes)
• Transmission and distribution
• Treatment facilities
• Storage tanks

MDARD will provide a proposal template with specific instructions to submit a grant proposal. It is anticipated that a call for applications will occur in October 2022.

For more information, visit the program’s website.