Northern Michigan to See Support from New Office of Rural Development – 9 & 10 News

Michigan has a brand new workplace of Rural Improvement based mostly in Lansing, however its management comes with a northern Michigan Connection.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer created the all-new workplace in January, nevertheless it took till the most recent finances was signed into legislation for the workplace to be totally funded. The Deputy Director has sturdy ties to the Grand Traverse space – and the Higher Peninsula.

The primary Deputy Director of the brand new workplace is Sarah Lucas, “One of many large hopes and the imaginative and prescient for this workplace is to be a voice for rural communities within the choice making course of.” The brand new Workplace of Rural Improvement is housed in Lansing, beneath the Michigan Division of Agriculture and Rural Improvement. Lucas was appointed by MDARD Director (and former northern Michigan lawmaker) Gary McDowell. Whereas she’ll be headquartered within the capital, a lot of the work will probably be finished on the street within the state’s rural communities.

“The thought was actually to insure betters entry to rural communities and a few of the sources and programming which can be on the market now or that may turn into out there sooner or later,” Lucas says. She involves the place from the Lake Superior Neighborhood Partnership in Marquette, and earlier than that – Networks Northwest in Traverse Metropolis. “Loads of state companies do work carefully with native governments and organizations on the bottom. However there hasn’t been a collective voice for rural communities prior to now.”

Whether or not it’s housing or broadband, a scarcity of employees, childcare, or agriculture points – the Workplace of Rural Improvement is right here to assist. “Rural communities throughout the state are coping with actually complicated points which can be linked to inhabitants traits. Because of an getting older inhabitants and lack of youthful folks we’re experiencing challenges associated to income loss, decrease enrollment in faculties,” Lucas says. “It may be actually troublesome for a rural neighborhood that has possibly one or two paid workers folks, to use for these {dollars} and administer these grants on the native degree. Restricted workers, restricted budgets actually affect the power of communities to resolve their issues regionally.”

State Senator Wayne Schmidt says he’s wanting to see the great that comes with the newly created workplace. He says getting state funding for it, and packages just like the Artistic Coast – geared toward recruiting Michigan’s workforce – will push issues ahead, “That coupled with the Workplace of Rural Improvement, can be a good one-two punch in attracting extra younger folks up right here.”

Traverse Join agrees that years of speaking in regards to the points dealing with smaller communities – can get some muscle by approach for formal help from Lansing.

“We’re additionally completely happy this workplace will probably be totally staffed so we will work on a few of these large image coverage objects -that we had talked about main as much as the institution of this office- and actually put the rubber to the street and actually begin making a distinction for the folks of northern Michigan,” mentioned Director of Authorities Relations Henry Wolf.

The Deputy Director title is just not an elected place, however Sarah Lucas agrees this new place is nearly like one other type of illustration in Lansing. Nonetheless, separate from any celebration affiliation, the main focus is on what’s finest for rural Michigan.

“It wasn’t a query of (R) or (D),” mentioned Sen. Schmidt. “It was a query of northern Michigan and the Higher Peninsula sticking collectively to ensure their voice is heard in Lansing,” he says. “To have her combating for us too actually makes a distinction.”

“We actually need to have, I assume ‘a rural voice on the desk’ as companies and choice makers are contemplating packages or new sources or new insurance policies,” mentioned Lucas. “We actually want to consider how they’re affecting rural communities.”

“We actually want to consider options for housing, broadband connectivity, youngster care. All of these facilities that deliver folks again to our communities. And maintain them there for the long run,” Lucas added. “No matter what a part of the state you’re in, if you happen to’re in a rural neighborhood, you’re experiencing very comparable points associated to the dearth of workers, the necessity for housing, the necessity for youngster care. And a few of the difficulties in accessing sources to resolve these points.”

Lucas says new grant alternatives for rural communities will begin this fall. Remaining workers positions for the brand new workplace may very well be stuffed within the subsequent few months as nicely.