WASHINGTON, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Counties' (NACo) Rural Action Caucus (RAC) recently selected Michigan as the host state for its annual steering committee board meeting. The meeting will take place this fall in Frankenmuth and will be hosted by Tuscola County and the Michigan Association of Counties.

"We are excited to bring rural leaders from across the country to showcase our region's innovations in agriculture and rural development," said Tuscola County Commission Board Chair Thomas Bardwell. Bardwell is a member of the RAC Steering Committee and chair of NACo's Rural Development Subcommittee. He also serves as second vice president for the Michigan Association of Counties.

Thirty to 40 elected county officials are expected to attend the meeting, which will take place in September or October. Exact location is to be determined.

The RAC Steering Committee meets each year to develop RAC's legislative priorities on important issues affecting rural counties and communities such as rural development programs, transportation, broadband deployment, the farm bill, and access to health care.

For more information about NACo or RAC, contact Erik Johnston at 202.942.4230.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation's 3,068 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money. For more information about NACo, visit www.naco.org.

SOURCE National Association of Counties