BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN RURAL HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES

SAN FRANCISCO - Eight rural California areas will receive $2,050,000 in federal funding to support economic development, stimulate job growth and promote affordable housing, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez announced today. The funds are being provided through HUD's Rural Housing and Economic Development program.

The funding announced today is part of $25 million distributed to rural communities in 33 states and territories to
help create innovative housing and economic development solutions including rehabilitation, new construction, job creation, business retention and strategic planning.

"These Rural Housing and Economic Development grants will assist rural communities around the country by providing funding for economic development and housing programs to underserved areas," said HUD Secretary Martinez.
"These funds build and rehabilitate homes, fuel business development to create jobs, and improve the overall health
of our nation's rural communities."

Rural Housing and Economic Development grants announced today include:

• The Community Advocacy Foundation of Fresno, $400,000, to facilitate the development of an E-Technology Village with computer labs.
• South County Housing Corporation in Monterey County, $400,000, to purchase mobile home units for
  temporary housing for migrant, seasonal farmworkers.
• Guidiville Indian Rancheria, $150,000, for implementation of the Off Reservation Rental Housing and Family
  Self Sufficiency Project with Mendocino County Department of Social Services.
• Housing Assistance Corporation, $150,000, for capacity building in assisting the organization to construct 50 units of multi-family housing.
• San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians of California, $150,000, to develop a One Stop Shop for business and homeownership development.
• Campesinos Unidos, Incorporated, $150,000, to build organizational capacity resulting in homeownership opportunities for 75 families. The target population is seasonal farm workers near Brawley.
• North Community Development Council, $100,000, to fund a sustainable design component of a mill site reuse plan to result in the creation of 35 jobs, 10 new units of housing and 20 rehabbed housing units.
• Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, $150,000, for hiring the necessary staff to develop a feasibility analysis for a
  tourism development project.
• Walking Shield American Indian Society, Inc. in Tustin, $400,000, to help manage and coordinate the
  relocation of approximately 258 houses from the Minot Air Force Base to five Indian reservations in three
  states.

HUD's Rural Housing and Economic Development (RHED) Program helps state and local communities to encourage economic development and promote affordable housing by building the capacity needed to undertake these complex activities. These communities can use the funding to hire and train staff, purchase computers and software, develop accounting systems or hire experts to help them accomplish their economic development and housing goals.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, 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.

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