Several federal agencies visited Sault Ste. Marie last week and met with local business owners and dignitaries to help improve funding and programs in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.
The two day event at Kewadin Casino included several speakers from the Treasury Department to the USDA Rural Development.
The goal was to discuss federal funding and programs connected to clean energy, workforce development, transportation, broadband and clean water.
"It's so worth our time to bring people in to know who we are," explained Linda Hoath, Executive Director of the Sault Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (SACVB).
The event took five months to organize with several agencies from across the nation working together.
Small and large group sessions took place at various times during the event and were provided information on how federal funding is available to area communities.
"They will take all the information and see what we need. They will put it together and see what our number one thing and number two thing we need, and so on. We are hoping that we can get those answers and how can we move forward to make this a better place to live. What do we have to do. These are the people that can help us figure out how to do that," Hoath said.
The session ended Friday afternoon with a final large group discussion on moving forward with an action plan for the area.
