
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) on Thursday awarded 21 Rural Development Fund Grants to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure that benefits rural communities, including one each in Tuscola and Huron counties.
TCA Management, LLC of Caro was awarded $100,000 to support hiring up to four new employees and to purchase a new FM200C 2G Dual Wash plant that will produce material critically needed by federal, state and local agricultural and residential customers.
Meanwhile, Maurer Meat Processors, LLC of Ubly was awarded $96,350 to upgrade the shrink-wrap heat tunnel system for packaging and wrapping meat products, thereby reducing the risk of product loss for customers.
Authorized by Public Act 411 of 2012, Rural Development Fund Grants promote the sustainability of land-based industries including food and agriculture, forestry, mining, oil and gas production and tourism. They also support workforce training, rural capacity building, business development and infrastructure that benefits rural communities.