Thursday, June 12 (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) After leaving the Twin Cities, the "Homeownership Express" headed to the banks of Lake Michigan, carrying the homeownership message into Milwaukee. The visit coincided with the Third Annual Milwaukee Community Development Summit.

To emphasize the crucial role that homeownership plays in strengthening communities, the bus unloaded at the Italian Community Center, the site of the Summit. Throughout the day, folks attending the Summit - along with other interested Milwaukee citizens - learned about the opportunities for homeownership that can be found right in their own community. Housing counselors were also on hand to answers questions.

Radio station WNOV-AM broadcast live from the site of the Express. Listeners asked questions about such important topics as housing counseling, down payment assistance, flexible mortgage financing and for other resources to help them realize the American Dream of homeownership.

Assistant Secretary Bernardi is interviewed by the local FOX Channel at the Third Annual Summit for a Stronger Milwaukee in Milwaukee during Homeownership Month.

HUD Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development Roy Bernardi delivered the Summit's keynote address. As the former mayor of Syracuse, New York, Assistant Secretary Bernardi is uniquely qualified to speak about the steps that communities can take to help meet their housing needs. He also talked about the advantages areas such as Milwaukee enjoy because of their status as Renewal Communities - a designation that helps to spur economic growth through special tax incentives that encourage community revitalization efforts.

Joining in the event were Fannie Mae, the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, Housing Resources, Inc. (a HUD-approved counseling agency), IndependenceFirst, Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, North Shore Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

Friday, June 13 (West Des Moines and Nevada, Iowa) Homeownership for rural Americans was the theme of the day as HUD's "Homeownership Express" made stops in two Iowa cities.

Nearly a quarter of the occupied homes in this nation are found in rural areas. Yet, even though rural housing conditions have improved over the years, and more rural Americans now live in decent and comfortable homes, it remains a fact that of the nation's 200 poorest counties, 189 are rural. Clearly, more needs to be done.

More is being done, and Iowa is helping to lead the way.

The Nevada, Iowa, stop highlighted first-time homebuyer Shannon Rosenbeck and the government program that made her dream of homeownership a reality. The Rural Development Mortgage Participation Program provides financial assistance to qualified homebuyers in cities with populations of 20,000 or less.

Nevada Mayor Patrick Sheets was happy for the new homeowner.

Thomas Dorr, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Under Secretary for Rural Development, was on hand to wish Shannon all the best in her new home. Mayor Patrick Sheets and local housing officials joined in welcoming the new homeowner to the neighborhood. Other participating partners included State Bank and Trust; Iowa Bankers Mortgage; Iowa Fannie Mae Partnership; Iowa Department of Economic Development; the cities of Ames, Collins, Colo, Huxley, McCallsburg, Maxwell, Nevada, and Zearing; and the Story County Board of Supervisors.

From there, the Express moved on to West Des Moines and settled into its temporary home outside an old fire station. The station now serves as a community center for residents and tourists visiting the many specialty shops that are part of the historic Valley Junction commercial district. Valley Junction is benefiting from a $500,000 Economic Development Initiative Special Projects Grant from HUD that funds the construction or renovation of buildings in historic business districts.

The new vitality in this old neighborhood has spurred housing redevelopment projects and an increase in affordable homeownership opportunities.

During a special program, Under Secretary Dorr and Federal Home Loan Bank Vice President Curt Heidt presented Region XII Council Governments with the Home Loan Bank Award for Excellence. The honor recognized the tremendously important work Region XII is doing to help low-income families and individuals find affordable homeownership. Through HUD's "Helping Iowa's Rural Economy Program," Region XII has already assisted 38 families in purchasing homes.

Shannon Rosenbeck in the kitchen of her new home. Shannon applied for a 502 direct Rural Development housing loan in January. The cost of her home? $89,500.	Ames and Nevada, Iowa government officials with Shannon Rosenbeck doing a ribbon cutting ceremony in front of her new home, which Shannon bought through the Department of Agriculture.