"This funding will not only create jobs today, it will be a catalyst for future economic growth and revenue for the city," Granholm says. "We want to partner with the local community to attract the business investment and jobs we need in Michigan."

D & K Industries is a rail transfer and warehousing facility located in Grayling's industrial park. The city will use the CDBG funding and more than $34,000 in matching funds to extend and upgrade road, water, sewer and rail services that the company needs to expand.

MEDC president and chief executive officer Don Jakeway believes the upgrades will also help business around D & K. "This funding directly support's D & K Industries' expansion, but also provides resources that will help other businesses located within the industrial park," Jakeway says. "The extension of public utilities will be a selling point to attract additional development opportunities."

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. administers the state's Community Development Block Grant funds received from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

These funds are used to provide grants to eligible counties, cities, villages and townships-typically those with populations less than 50,000-for economic development, community development and housing projects. Larger communities receive block grant funds directly from the federal government.