Lenawee County receives grant to develop agribusiness

9/15/2006

ADRIAN - Lenawee County will receive a $25,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture to spur agricultural innovation.

The grant is designated to test, develop, and market new food products in a "kitchen incubator" in the county and create jobs and markets for locally grown produce, state Rep. Dudley Spade said.

The county will provide the 10 percent matching funds, or $2,500, required to receive the grant, said Randy Yagiela, chief strategic officer for the Lenawee Chamber for Economic Development, which applied for the grant on behalf of the county.

The Michigan Commission of Agriculture, a bipartisan group appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to provide oversight and executive direction for the programs of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, has set aside $4.7 million for projects in Michigan. The $4.7 million is part of Ms. Granholm's $2 billion 21st Century Jobs Fund to increase the economic value of the state's agricultural commodities.