By Stacey Tucker (Contact / Staff Bio)
November 4, 2009 - 10:22 a.m. EST

CARO — More than $80,000 in grant money was awarded Monday morning to local organizations.

USDA Rural Development presented a total of $85,000 in grant money to the Village of Cass City, Thumb Area Partnership, Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation and the Thumb Area Tourism Council.

James Turner, USDA Rural Development Director for Michigan, said the organization wants to do whatever it can to help local communities.

“USDA Rural Development is working with local communities to improve the business climate,” Turner said. “These investments will help strengthen local businesses and provide for job creation.”

The Village of Cass City received a $5,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to purchase a paint mixer for Plain & Fancy Decorating LLC.

Cass City Village manager Peter Cristiano said the village wants to do whatever it can to assist new businesses.

“Five years ago we had 15 empty buildings and now we’re down to five or six,” Cristiano said. “With Nancy, we’re fortunate she decided to buy a building.”

Plain & Fancy Decorating owner Nancy Braun said, with the help of the village, their business has done very well so far.

“The village has helped support us and the local community, too,” she said. “I would like to thank everyone who had a hand in helping us.”

The Tuscola County EDC also received a $20,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to maintain a revolving loan fund to support small businesses in the county, while Thumb Area Partnership received a $40,000 grant that will also help small business in the county access new markets and increase their competitiveness.

Tuscola County EDC director Jim McLoskey said the EDC is currently looking at several business in the area that could create local jobs, including a manufacturing business that would create 43 jobs, a service industry business dealing with kids and foster care that would create 11 jobs and a catering business that would start out with six new jobs.

The Thumb Area Tourism Council received a $20,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant for marketing and Web site design to promote travel in Michigan’s Thumb.

State representative Terry Brown said grants like these are exactly what communities need to grow.

“We in rural areas very much appreciate this,” Brown said. “Several of these ideas that are out there have been percolating for many years.

“We thank you for helping us.”

Stacey Tucker is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at tucker@tcadvertiser.com.