Lenawee County
How Agriculture Impacts Economic Development
Agriculture is a core economic engine in Lenawee County. According to a recent report, the county has 1,350+ farms covering about 385,000+ acres. In terms of financial impact: in one recent year, agricultural market value of products sold in the county exceeded $250 million.
Total agricultural production (crops + livestock) supports over 3,000 jobs (direct + indirect) in Lenawee. The associated labor income was $40+ million. The agricultural footprint is large. Lenawee has over 300,000 acres in farms. The mix of agriculture remains both crop production and livestock.
Agricultural sales in Lenawee translate into local incomes, spending, jobs, not just on farms but in supporting services, such as, equipment, transport, processing, retail.
Agriculture helps sustain rural land use, maintain farmland values and contributes to the county’s identity and quality of life.
Lenawee Now
Our Role
Lenawee Now is known for business development, small business support, entrepreneurship and its workforce/talent pipelines. However, agriculture as part of our economic strategy.
In terms of site selection, Lenawee Now is involved in manufacturing, agriculture and entrepreneurial startups among the target sectors we help attract, retain and grow.
Our Toolbox of financing/incentive programs is generic to businesses including those which are Ag-related.
Focus in areas such as workforce development via Align Center for Workforce Development aims to connect employers, educators and the labor pool.
Recent Funding and Programs Involving Lenawee Now – Implications for Agriculture
Lenawee Now funding and programs that could influence the agricultural sector – directly or indirectly
Funding and Programs
In 2024, Lenawee Now was awarded a $1.4 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to expand the Lean Rocket Lab “LOCAL” program into Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties. Programs like this have already produced local entrepreneurs who are developing a business plan to expand their farm into an on-site store that sells beef grown on their farm.
The direct grants are available to eligible small businesses, via a competitive process, to cover costs of technical assistance and professional services to help achieve lending readiness.
Lean Rocket Lab’s “LOCAL” program provides business coaching, workshops, networking and technical assistance. These resources could support entrepreneurs starting or expanding Ag-related small businesses.
Lenawee Now continues to offer financing tools, such as, Business Revolving Loan Fund and USDA-linked loan programs which are open to businesses generally. This could include farms or farm-related enterprises seeking capital for expansion, processing, supply-chain work, etc.
Our workforce and talent development efforts — via the Align Center, partnerships with educational institutions and coordination with services like Michigan Works! Southeast help ensure there is labor available for local employers. This includes manufacturing, but also could support labor-intensive agriculture and agribusiness.
How Agriculture, Economic Development and Lenawee Now Fit Together in Lenawee
Agriculture remains a backbone of Lenawee County’s economy. Its scale and economic output give the county stability and identity, which helps attract other businesses and supports a diversified local economy.
Lenawee Now, as the county’s economic development organization, recognizes agriculture as a target sector. Its tools — loans, small business support, workforce development, startup/incubator resources — provide a platform that Ag-related businesses (especially non-farm-traditional ones: Ag-processing, value-added food products, farm services, supply-chain, perhaps even farm-technology or agritech) can use to grow.
There are also farms in Lenawee that operate as an Agri-Tourism business. This is an area where business development and support programs can help farms with economic strategies.
Contact Lenawee Now!
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