First American Bobsled victory in 46 years gives Gold medals to team of two women, including first-ever Winter Olympics Gold for an African American. The first-ever third generation Winter Olympian, an American man wins Gold in Skeleton in honor of his father and grandfather. A modern and growing American community - Salt Lake City, host to the 2002 Winter Olympics - adds hundreds of "good as gold" affordable housing units thanks to Olympics-driven housing development.

With help from the Department, not all of the "gold" from the 2002 Winter Olympics will leave Salt Lake City when the Olympics end next week. One long-term win for the community will be hundreds of new affordable housing units developed to meet the needs of the Olympic games. Since June, 1999, a staff member of the Utah State Office, Mike Frenz, worked with the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee (SLOC). HUD's Salt Lake City office had considerable expertise to offer, and Frenz advised the Olympic Committee on how HUD programs could assist, performed financial analysis, and served as a reliable development information resource.

In fact, over a period of several years HUD assistance was essential to help SLOC and the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency meet the housing needs of the soon-to-be host to the world. With the help of $1.85 million in HUD economic development programs, the organizations made heating and cooling infrastructure improvements in the Gateway development, a 650-acre downtown Brownfield redevelopment project.

Other housing built with HUD assistance includes funds used by the Utah Housing Corporation (UHC). Originally intended for SLOC to provide manufactured housing at the Soldier Hollow Olympic Venue for Olympic workers, the program was taken over by UHC with permission from SLOC. UHC purchased 45 4-bedroom manufactured homes from Fleetwood, the manufacturer - at discounts of around 40% of retail price. Purchased for $41,000 per unit with a market value of approximately $70,000, after the Games, the manufactured housing units will be sold and moved to permanent locations.

The homes will be delivered in "like new" condition. Carpeting will be added after delivery and kitchen appliances will not be used during the Olympics. Most of the homes will be sold to Indian Tribes and low-income buyers at a cost of $23,000 - including transportation of the units - with buyers providing land and infrastructure. Two units will be given to Options for Independence, a non-profit organization serving disabled persons. A one-year warranty will begin at the time the homes are sited at their permanent locations.