JACKSON, Mich., July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Consumers Energy's ongoing "Growing Forward" business strategy includes promoting small town and rural development through a new section on the home page of the utility's website: http://www.consumersenergy.com/ . The focus of the website information and Consumers Energy's relationship with small towns is to encourage rural leaders to take action to help shape their community's future. Consumers Energy provides electric and natural gas service in all 68 counties in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. "We emphasize that we all want the future to be of our choosing and not something that happens to us," said Allan Hooper, economic development director for Consumers Energy. Hooper, who designed outreach programs to encourage small town development, is available to meet with community leaders on economic development strategies and tactics. More information is available by contacting Consumers Energy at: . The website information provides free-of-charge, proven strategies for use by community leaders for economic retention and development. In addition, the section provides comprehensive economic development services, including quick- link information for business managers on site selection, local incentive packages, community information and profiles, energy rate information, and business and market evaluations. Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at http://www.consumersenergy.com/ DATASOURCE: Consumers Energy CONTACT: Dan Bishop, +1-517-788-2395, or Jeff Holyfield, +1-517-788-2394, both of Consumers Energy Web site: http://www.consumersenergy.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/203850.html

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