Rbdg rural business coop rural enterprise grant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service awarded the Great Lakes Boat Building School (GLBBS), a private university and non-profit educational institution, a $354,600 Rural Business Development Grant (CFDA 10.351) to promote sustainable economic development and facilitate small business growth in rural communities. This funding supports GLBBS's boat building and marine technology programs, which equip students with the skills and knowledge to enter the workforce as skilled craftsmen and technicians in the marine industry. Additionally, GLBBS received a sub-award from Michigan State University to collaborate on demonstrating the value of nail-laminated timber as a building material for a new 10,000 square foot facility, which will provide additional workshop and instructional space, as well as new boat docking infrastructure and marine electronics testing equipment to enhance student learning experiences and meet the region's marine workforce needs.