U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, announced today that several northern Michigan communities will receive federal funding to improve housing in the area. The funds come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Housing Preservation Grant program.

Alpena County will receive $147,760 to repair or improve 28 housing units, while Alcona County will receive $77,760 to repair or improve 10 housing units.”This funding will help Alpena, Alcona, Ogemaw, and Crawford counties continue to provide residents with quality, affordable housing. Investing in our rural communities not only helps the people who call these areas home, it makes the whole state of Michigan a better place to live and work,” Stabenow said in a press release Tuesday.