HUD
No. 03-091 Brian Sullivan (202) 708-0685 ext. 7527 |
For
Release Friday September 5, 2003 |
BUSH ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $24.6 MILLION TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES STIMULATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CREATE JOBS
Funds will help produce affordable housing in 32 States and Puerto Rico
Fresno Area to Receive Four Grants
WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez today announced $24.6 million in grants to help rural communities in 32 states and Puerto Rico produce affordable housing and stimulate economic development. The funding announced today is provided through HUD's Rural Housing and Economic Development Program.
Rural non-profit organizations, federally recognized Native American
tribes, Community Development Corporations
and state agencies will
administer these grants. The funding will help 87 rural communities
to build and improve affordable housing, create jobs and generate
community and economic development.
"This funding demonstrates the Bush Administration's continued
investment in rural communities across our country," said Martinez.
"These grants will not only help fund critically needed housing
and economic development projects
but will help generate even more
funding from other public and private sources."
Recipients include the I-5 Social Services Corporation in Fresno,
which will receive $400,000 to acquire forty acres
of property for
the development of the Don Alejandro Valdez Community Development
Project; the Westside Housing and Economic Network, Inc., of Fresno
which will receive $400,000 to perform market analysis and implementation
plans of a SIPS factory; Fresno West Coalition for Economic Development
which will receive $150,000 for needs assessment studies; and the
Tule River Economic Development Corporation in Porterville which
will receive $400,000 to acquire property for a training center.
The North Fork Community Development Council in North Fork will also receive a $400,000 grant to expand a wastewater treatment plant to assist in the redevelopment of an abandoned lumber mill, and to aid in low-income housing for Native Americans.
Rural communities will use this funding as seed money to pay the
start-up costs for activities undertaken by new organizations or
for specific housing or economic development projects undertaken
by new or existing groups. These grants will also help organizations
to hire and train their staffs, develop strategic plans and acquire
office space and other needed facilities. It's expected HUD's funding
will leverage an additional $44 million from other public and
private
sources.
HUD's Rural Housing and Economic Development grants help pay for
land acquisition, new home construction,
housing demolition, infrastructure
improvements and construction training. Other possible uses include
homeownership and financial counseling; financial assistance to
homeowners, businesses and developers; creating microenterprises
and small business incubators; and, establishing lines of credit
or revolving loan pools to benefit
the local business community.
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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