BUSH ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $429,000 GRANT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson and Education Secretary
Margaret Spellings announced today that the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff would receive a $429,609 grant under HUD's Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program to help revitalize neighborhoods near their campus. HUD's Office of University Partnerships administers the HBCU grants. Thirteen grants, totaling $10.4 million, were awarded nationally today.

"These grants will help ensure that HBCUs continue to educate many of the nation's African American physicians, lawyers and business leaders while also being able to revitalize the communities that surround them," Jackson said. "Throughout the nation, we have seen HBCUs breathe life into struggling college towns and blighted urban neighborhoods."

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will use its grant to help revitalize the University Park Neighborhood by supporting community organizations, improving physical infrastructure, developing and rehabilitating housing, supporting social education, and expanding small businesses.

HUD's HBCU program funds grantees to carry out projects designed primarily to benefit low- and moderate-income residents, help prevent or eliminate slums or blight, or meet urgent community development needs in their localities. The grants can be used for activities such as acquiring real estate; demolition; homeownership assistance to low-
and moderate-income persons; special economic development activities; and rehabilitation of residential, commercial or industrial buildings to correct code violations. Since 1991, HUD has awarded more than $59 million to HBCUs to stimulate economic and community development activities.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; 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 as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

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