U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner today joined local officials to celebrate the introduction of the Skyline Regional Education Center inside the Skyline Events Center in Oscoda County.
“Rural residents are great at noticing the assets around them and building businesses based on the needs of their neighbors,” said Turner. “The Skyline Regional Education Center will help entrepreneurially minded residents improve upon their existing skills to grow and create sustainable businesses in the region.”
USDA Rural Development provided a $57,000 Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) to support the project.
The regional education center will be staffed through a partnership with Kirtland Community College and the Skyline Event Center and will focus on providing technical assistance and specialized training programs for local residents and businesses. The project included the purchase of equipment for online webinars, teleconferencing and conducting business in an increasingly virtual and global marketplace.
Additional funding for the project was contributed from the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG).
USDA Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009. USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Under the Obama Administration, USDA Rural Development has invested more than $7.2 billion in Michigan projects.