In this episode of Lead to Succeed, host Steve Arwood talks with Sarah Lucas, Director of Michigan’s Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, about the tools and strategies helping rural communities prepare for growth. Sarah shares updates on the Rural Development Fund, including $4 million available this year and a new regional collaboration category, along with the work of the Rural Readiness Network, which now includes 175 communities. The conversation also explores housing, land use planning, changing development pressures, and why regional collaboration is increasingly important for communities across the Upper Peninsula.
