| Lee Jones (206) 220-5356 (work) (804) 363-7018 (cell) |
For Release Thursday July 18, 2013 |
HUD AWARDS $5.7 MILLION TO 11 NATIVE VILLAGES & TRIBES IN ALASKA FOR HOUSING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Arctic Village, Cheyak, Chignik, False Pass, Shungnak, Nikolai, Kake, Venetie, Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point Villae, Mentasta Traditional Council & the Knik Tribe win HUD Indian Community Development Block Grants
ANCHORAGE - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Mary McBride today announce the award of $5,720,168 to 11 native villages and a tribe in Alaska to improve or create housing and economic development opportunities for low- to moderate-income families.
The competitive grants, awarded under HUD's Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program, were won by:
| ICDBG RECIPIENT | PROJECT DESCRIPTION | AMOUNT |
| Arctic Village | Construction of 2 single-family homeownership houses | $600,000 |
| Chevak Native Village | Construction of a new health clinic | $600,000 |
| Knik Tribe | Acquisition & rehabilitation of 6-units of multi-family rental housing in Wasilla | $600,000 |
| Mentasta Traditional Council | Construction of 1,000 square-foot primary care clinic | $600,000 |
| Native Village of Chignik | Construction of 5 single-family homeownership houses | $600,000 |
| Native Village of False Pass | Rehabilitation & update of eight, 25+-year old houses | $242,156 |
| Native Village of Shungnak | Rehabilitation/weatherization of 22 existing homes & construction of up to 7. 2bedroom additions | $600,000 |
| Nikolai Village | Construction of new health clinic | $600,000 |
| Organized Village of Kake | Expansion & modernization of Kake senior community center | $600,000 |
| Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point Village | Acquisition & construction of 10k wind turbine for use in prototype new home | $78,012 |
| Village of Venetie | Construction of 2 single-family homeownership houses | $600,000 |
| TOTAL | $5,720,168 | |
Today's awards are part of the $53.6 million in ICDBG funds HUD awarded competitively across the United States in 2013 .
"These funds help Native Alaskan communities create sustainable and community-driven solutions to the challenges they face," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "They improve, preserve and expand the supply of decent, affordable housing, as well as expands economic opportunities for some of the most vulnerable fellow citizens."
"Across Alaska native villages and tribal organizations are using ICDBG funds to meet their most pressing housing and community development priorities," said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Mary McBride. "These grants will address unique challenges faced by a region with a remote population, severe weather conditions, and an extremely short construction season and some of the lessons they learn may be adapted by other communities across the country that are facing similar challenges."
The ICDBG program was established in 1977 to help Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages to meet their community development needs. Federally recognized Indian tribes, bands, groups or nations (including Alaska Indian, Aleuts and Eskimos,) or Alaska Native villages compete for this funding. The recipients use the funding to develop viable communities, including rehabilitating housing or building new housing or to buy land to support new housing construction.
ICDBG funding can also be used to build infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer facilities, and to create suitable living environments. To spur economic development, recipients have used the grants to establish a wide variety of commercial, industrial and agricultural projects. The grants have been used to build community and health centers, or to start businesses to support the community, such as shopping centers, manufacturing plants, restaurants or convenience stores/gas stations.
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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on Twitter at @HUDnews or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.
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