HUD AWARDS FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ORONO
Grants designed to create jobs & affordable housing in rural Maine

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $298,234 to Four Directions Development Corporation in Orono to stimulate economic development, create jobs and produce more affordable housing. The funding is provided through HUD's Rural Housing and Economic Development Program. The grants announced today are part of $25 million HUD is awarding to 85 rural housing programs throughout the country.

"These grants will create jobs and produce critically needed affordable housing throughout rural areas of our country that are desperate for both," said Donovan. "We are committed to an economic recovery that is sustainable and reaches every corner of our country, including rural communities that are so important to our nation's economic health."

Four Directions Development Corp. will use the funding to assist four Federally Recognized Indian Tribes in the
creation of a Wabanaki Brand business and the development of a business incubator for the Native tribe members.
The project will create new Native businesses, jobs, resources in the areas of marketing, financial management, incubator business plan, and business venture training. These funds will also provide assistance in constructing and accessing new national and regional markets for their products and services. Partners in this project include the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, The Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe, The Penobscot Nation and the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance.

Rural Housing and Economic Development (RHED) grants support 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.

Qualified applicants are local rural nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, federally
recognized Indian tribes, State housing finance agencies and/or local economic development agencies. Since 1998, RHED grants have provided nearly $250 million, creating/training more than 41,000 jobs, assisting nearly 6,300 businesses and producing nearly 16,000 affordable homes.

Rural communities will use this funding as seed money to pay the start-up costs for housing or economic
development projects. These grants will also help organizations to hire and train their staffs, develop strategic
plans and acquire office space and other needed facilities.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.