Just as HUD's Homes and Communities Page is the "front door" to on-line information and services from the Department, the redesigned FirstGov.gov website is the U.S. Government's official "front door" on the Internet and provides easy-to-use access to information and services for citizens, businesses, and governments.

The new FirstGov site, recently launched by Vice President Dick Cheney, connects visitors faster and more accurately with the transactions, services, and information that matter to them.

Through the Business Gateway, small and large companies and individuals can learn how to do business with the Federal Government (the new entrepreneur can even get step-by-step guidance on how to start a business), find links to information on Federal Auctions and Sales, how to get a State Business License in almost every state in the nation, and more.

The Government Gateway has valuable resources for government at all levels (for example, information provided for tribal governments includes a link to programs and information available from HUD's Office of Native American Programs (www.codetalk.fed.us/HUD_ONAP.html)), has important links for federal, state and local employees, news on government jobs, government sales and auctions, and the very latest concerning information technology.

The new FirstGov.gov connects citizens to over 50 million pages of federal, state, and local government Internet pages, and offers more services and reliable information than any other source. It's our government, and now "We the People" can find what we need without knowing which government agency or department we have to contact. Visit and bookmark www.FirstGov.gov today.