An Upper Peninsula group will receive a $50,000 state grant to boost a veterans assistance fund.

Escanaba-based UPCAP Services will use the money to provide financial aid and services to veterans across the U.P., according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The program is described as “ensuring long-term sustainability through strategic planning, policy development and community partnerships.”

The assistance is part of $1.3 million in Rural Readiness Grant Program funding announced recently by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and LEO’s Office of Rural Prosperity. The grants are designed to help rural communities build capacity, drive economic development and improve quality of life.

“With the Rural Readiness Grant Program, we are helping communities across Michigan build the infrastructure, workforce, health services, housing and other amenities they need to grow and thrive,” Whitmer said in a news release.

Other U.P.-specific recipients include:

— Beaver Island Association, $43,000 to develop a broadband development plan for Beaver Island to map out a fiber-to-the-home network, confirm build-out costs and establish a township-owned broadband system to provide reliable, high-speed internet access.

— Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District, $50,000 to assess regional mental health needs, engage community stakeholders and develop solutions to address gaps in support for students, particularly those experiencing severe post-COVID mental health challenges.

— Gogebic Range Health Foundation, $50,000 to develop a comprehensive plan for a multi-purpose community center in Gogebic County to address childcare shortages, economic disparities and social service gaps through cross-sector collaboration and sustainable funding strategies.

Statewide and other regional projects funded through the Rural Readiness Grant Program will focus on areas such as business development, broadband expansion, housing, workforce training, health and other initiatives. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/ORP.

For information on UPCAP Services go to https://upcap.org/ or call 906-774-9918 or 906-786-4701.