HUD AWARDS ALMOST $1.5 MILLION TO CAMPUSES OF UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA AT FAIRBANKS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded a total of $1,484,194 to the Kuskokwim and Bristol Bay campuses of the University of Alaska at Fairbanks to help revitalize neighborhoods, promote affordable housing and stimulate economic development in their communities.

The funding announced today is provided through HUD's Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities (AN/NHIAC) Program. The University's Kuskokwim campus has won a grant of $749,597 and its Bristol Bay campus has won $734,597.

"Today we make an important investment to improve the economic health of Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities," said Donovan. "Beyond the tremendous influence these colleges and universities have in molding
young minds, they can also be a powerful force for community and economic revitalization."

For an institution to qualify under this program as an Alaska Native Institution, at least 20 percent of the undergraduate student enrollment must be Alaska Native. In addition, all institutions must be a two- or four-year institution and fully accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

HUD's grants are not intended to directly benefit these colleges and universities but will help these institutions undertake a wide variety of activities, particularly those that benefit low-income persons. These activities may include property acquisition, demolition of blighted structures, housing rehabilitation including cleaning lead-paint hazards and accessibility improvements, improving public facilities such as water and sewer systems, providing down payment and closing cost assistance to low- and moderate-income buyers, providing assistance to small businesses, helping community development organizations undertake neighborhood revitalization, supporting public services such as job training, child care, fair housing and housing counseling.

• The University's Kuskokwim campus will use its $749,597 grant to fund activities for their "Project-Intentional Change for Community Betterment." A collaborative undertaking of the University, the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center, testate of Alaska Court System's Bethel Therapeutic Court Regional Adult Basic Education Center, the Yuut Elitnaurviat adult learning center and the Tundra Women's Coalition, the project
  will assist between 250 to 300 individuals and more directly benefit approximately 100 participants who will
  build basic job skills and help develop their careers in the culinary arts, computers/internet, retail, hospitality industry, construction trades and small business.



• The University's Bristol Bay campus will use its $734,597 grant to implement its "Harvesting and Caching Resources for Bristol Bay" program which is focusing economic development activities in this rural village on assisting small businesses/microenterprises, offering academic and vocational services for young people and adults; and energy conservation. Activities will occur at the main campus in Dillingham or in a village-based learning center. The project will use local craft fairs to generate opportunities for local residents to sell their wares and to receive instructions on developing business opportunities, promote academic and vocational readiness - including leadership development - among 6th to 12th graders in four local school districts and offering job and "training to apprenticeship" opportunities for adults and young people in high-demand occupations such as welding, carpentry, and weatherization

The Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities Program is one of several initiatives
administered by HUD's Office of University Partnerships (OUP). Established in 1994, OUP is a catalyst for partnering colleges and universities with their communities in an effort to address pressing local problems. For more information about HUD's partnership with institutions of higher education, visit HUD's website.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.