The Michigan Municipal League has been asked to pass this along to our members, particularly our many rural community members. It’s from the USDA.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2019 – Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA and four of its partners are accepting applications from rural communities and regions for technical assistance to implement economic development planning projects.

USDA and its partners will review the applications as part of the Rural Economic Development Innovation (REDI) initiative. USDA is partnering with the National Association of Counties, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, McClure Engineering Company, and Purdue University Extension/Community & Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky.

Successful applicants will receive free technical assistance to develop and implement rural economic development plans. Rural communities with 50,000 or fewer people are eligible to apply. Applications will be scored, reviewed and selected on a competitive basis.

Interested parties can learn more about this initiative during a webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, at 1:00 PM EST.

Contact [email protected] to request an application. The application deadline is April 5, 2019.