Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has grant money earmarked for distribution to rural communities -- but that raises the thorny question of what exactly is rural.
In the past, the state’s standard has been a county population of 60,000, or small communities that the federal government calls “micropolitan statistical areas.”
Heather Throne, who manages the grant program for MDARD, said that opens up eligibility to more than half the counties in the state.
“It’s the entire U.P., Northern Michigan, it goes into the thumb. It hits the lower areas, and then there’s a speckling throughout the state of counties that would not be eligible, and those really are around our very urban communities,” she said.
Now, the state is accepting feedback from the public to decide whether it should keep that definition.
Throne said the board that oversees rural development grants could decide to expand or restrict which communities are eligible.
The grants are competitive, she said, so there’s a lot at stake. There’s about $1 million available, but typically only 10 to 20% of applicants receive a grant.
Expanding the definition of rural-ness would make more communities eligible for grants, but it would make the awards even more competitive, Throne said.
On the other hand, shrinking eligibility would mean less competition, but fewer communities would have an opportunity to get the money.
“The board is weighing all of those factors,” Throne said.
Past grants have gone toward projects like building parks, expanding wastewater treatment facilities and constructing housing for farm laborers.
More information about the grants is on the agriculture and rural development department’s website. They’re accepting public comments by email until 5 p.m. on July 2.
