HUD AWARDS $8 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA
Grants support critical projects in tribal areas to address housing, community development and jobs

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $8 million to 14 tribal communities in California to improve housing conditions, promote community development and to spur local economies with construction projects and jobs. The competitive grants awarded are part of HUD's Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program that address a wide variety of community development and affordable housing activities for low- to moderate-income families (see grant chart and summaries below).

"These grants are a step forward in forging solutions to improve the housing and economic conditions for some of our country's most culturally rich neighborhoods," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "I'm impressed at the energy and creativity in how these communities are leveraging public funds to create lasting solutions for countless families."

"This HUD funding is crucial to the tribal communities in support of their infrastructure, housing, health and business enterprises," said Administrator of the HUD Southwest Native American Programs Carolyn O'Neil. "The tribes will use the funding to improve the quality of their individual lives as well as the economic development of their community. Some tribes will benefit by using the HUD Indian Community Development Block Grant funding by upgrading water and sewage systems, others will build new housing, some will build new health clinics, and others will create local jobs through community projects."

The funding to California awarded today is part of the $56 million HUD announced today to tribal communities throughout the nation. The recipients will use these grants to develop viable communities including rehabilitating housing or building new homes or to purchase land to support new housing construction. The funding can also used to build infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer facilities. To stimulate economic development and job growth, recipients use the grants to establish commercial, industrial and agricultural projects. Recipients also use the funding to build community and health centers, or to start businesses to support the community including shopping centers, manufacturing plants, restaurants or convenience stores and gas stations. Here are just a few specific examples of HUD ICDBG grant use for tribal economic and community development:

• The All Mission Indian Housing Authority in La Jolla will use its $364,679 grant to provide two new homes for members of the La Jolla tribe who are living in overcrowded situations. The new construction will meet an essential community development need for quality housing and contribute considerably to community viability by reducing overcrowding.
  
  
• The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe will use its $604,998 grant to upgrade its existing infrastructure on the reservation by replacing segments of antiquated sewer lines serving tribal members. The original installations of sewer lines on the Chemehuevi Reservation date from the 1950s.
  
  
• Karuk Tribe of California will use their $605,000 grant to fund a wellness center that will provide recreation, physical activity, crime prevention, and other activities that promotes healthy living, as an essential community development need and that is critical to the viability of the community.

The ICDBG program was established in 1977 to help Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages to meet their community development needs. Federally recognized tribes, bands, groups, nations or eligible tribal organizations compete for this funding. 

 California ICDBG Grants

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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 @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.