BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $458,000 FOR LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS IN HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS

KANSAS CITY, KS - The City of Leavenworth, Kansas will receive $458,000 in federal assistance to stimulate local economies and promote affordable housing, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez announced
today.

"These grants do so much good for so many people," Martinez said. "This money helps communities do the critical work of stimulating business development, spurring job growth and providing affordable housing."

The funding announced today for the City of Leavenworth is Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds,
which are distributed to more than a thousand state and local governments for the purpose of building on their local efforts to improve their economies and housing.

First awarded in 1974, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds enable state and local governments to target their own economic development priorities. Although the rehabilitation of affordable housing has traditionally been the largest single use of the grants, the program is also an increasingly important catalyst for economic development activities that expand job and business opportunities for lower income families and neighborhoods.

HUD's block grant programs are distributed by formula around the country based on criteria including population, income levels, poverty rates and age of housing stock.

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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