HUD No. 03-105 Michael Fluharty (202) 708-0685 |
For
Release Tuesday November 18, 2003 |
HUD AWARDS $6.87 MILLION TO 20 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING FIVE INDIANA UNIVERSITIES, TO REVITALIZE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS
WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban
Development Secretary Mel Martinez today announced $6.87 million in grants to
20 colleges and universities to help harness their physical and economic resources
-- and the knowledge, creativity and energy of faculty and students -- to create
stronger, healthier neighborhoods near their campuses.
The recipients of
the Community Outreach Partnership Centers (COPC) grants are in: Arizona, California,
Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Texas, and Washington.
"The recipients of these grants are key members of their communities, and this support will further enable them to support innovative community partnerships that strengthen the economic and social infrastructure of nearby distressed neighborhoods," Martinez said.
The program is designed to help 2- and 4-year colleges and universities develop and sustain effective community partnerships. Administered by HUD's Office of University Partnerships in the Office of Policy Development and Research, COPC is a peer-reviewed, competitive program that provides 3-year grants of up to $400,000 to help universities, colleges, community colleges, and technical institutes play an active and visible role in community revitalization.
The funding helps colleges and universities to provide technical assistance,
training and applied research to community-based groups and local governments.
The funded activities are selected and designed jointly by the schools and neighborhood
groups. Through these projects, students learn about local neighborhoods and
neighborhood
residents gain access to the knowledge and resources of the higher education institutions.
For the grants awarded today, $3.98 million in New Grants will go to nine
institutions just starting their activities.
Six previous COPC winners will receive
some $900,000 in New Directions Grants to undertake new activities or work
in
new neighborhoods. The remaining $1.98 million in funding will go to five institutions
as Futures Demonstration Grants.
A total of 175 applications for COPC funding
were received this year. President Bush has proposed $8 million in
funding for
the grants in his fiscal year 2004 budget.
The grants will go to:
Arizona
University of Arizona - Tucson | $394,225 |
California
California State University - Long Beach University of California - Riverside | $399,979 $400,000 |
Florida
Florida State University - Tallassee | $399,969 |
Indiana
Butler University - Indianapolis Indiana University-Purdue University - Indianapolis Notre Dame University - Notre Dame Valparaiso University - Valparaiso | $150,000 $150,000 $398,087 $150,000 |
Louisiana
Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge | $399,939 |
Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts - Boston | $150,000 |
Minnesota
University of Minnesota - Minneapolis | $400,000 |
New
York Rochester Institute of Technology - Rochester State University of New York College at Cortland - Albany | $399,998 $150,000 |
North
Carolina Winston-Salem State University - Winston-Salem | $400,000 |
Ohio
Wright State University - Dayton | $150,000 |
Oregon Portland Community College - Portland | $399,880 |
Pennsylvania
Point Park College - Pittsburgh University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia | $398,405 $397,739 |
South
Carolina Anderson College - Anderson | $397,384 |
Texas
University of Texas - El Paso | $395,403 |
Washington
University of Washington - Seattle | $396,994 |
Schools
were selected for the grants based on: extent of community need; quality of activities
described; level of neighborhood and local government participation; the funds
each school expected to contribute or raise from other sources; and commitment
to the program.
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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