The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development voted to approve three Food and Agriculture Investment Fund grants for local Michigan businesses. These funds will allow businesses to improve operations, expand services through a sustainable focus, and create good-paying jobs.
“These grants help to make Michigan small businesses more competitive on a global scale by allowing them to improve operations and create more unique employment opportunities for Michiganders,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “As we work to put Michigan first, it is important we look at all avenues of innovation to support rural development. With Michigan’s agricultural and food entrepreneurial spirit, I know our food production companies will continue to advance and thrive.”
“I’m proud of the continued investments the State of Michigan continues to make into local food and agricultural based businesses,” said Gary McDowell, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. “These three businesses will now be able to increase production, hire more skilled Michiganders, and increase sustainable practices. I am excited to see the progress these companies make over the coming months and years.”
Here in the Upper Peninsula, Maple Hardwoods, Inc. is a second-generation timber company in Hessel, Michigan. Their management team has been dealers in hardwood logs, forest management, and the lumber business for more than 50 years. This $90,000 grant will provide the funds for a sawmill expansion and modernization project that will create approximately 10 new jobs. The project involves equipment installation, interior construction, and buildout in an existing 57,000 square foot building to support a sawmill line and office area.
“This investment today is for the betterment of our employees’ livelihoods tomorrow,” said Andrew Jaroche, second generation and vice president of Maple Hardwoods, Inc.
The Food and Agriculture Investment Program provides financial support for food and agriculture projects that help expand food and agriculture processing to enable growth in the industry and Michigan’s economy. Projects are selected based on their impact to the overall agriculture industry and their impact to food and agriculture growth and investment in Michigan.
For more information about MDARD grants, visit Michigan.gov/MDARDGrants.
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