HUD REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR WALEGA ANNOUNCES THAT 60 AFFORDABLE HOMES IN PORTLAND WILL BECOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT AS A RESULT OF RECOVERY ACT GREEN RETROFIT AWARDS
Awards will create green jobs and reduce energy costs

BOSTON - Today, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Walega announced that 60 homes in Portland's Bayview Heights affordable housing development will become energy efficient as a result of additional funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's Multifamily Green Retrofit Program. The $866,105 in funding awarded to Bayview Heights will create jobs and save money for residents.

Today's announcement is part of a major, national Recovery Act milestone: 100 percent of the program's $250
million in grants and loans was obligated by the September 30, 2010, statutory deadline, marking a significant achievement for a program that was created only eighteen months ago. The entire $250 million, awarded nationally,
is now dedicated to developments to provide nearly 20,000 homes around the country with energy efficient
upgrades. In addition to the green improvements, the green retrofit grants and loans will also create jobs, and
reduce utility consumption by more than 25 percent on average, saving these low-income properties $12 million annually on utility bills. A complete list of Recovery Act Green Retrofit Program awards can be viewed on HUD's website.

"This funding is improving the quality of life for residents, in addition to lowering energy costs, and making affordable housing more financially sustainable in the years ahead," said HUD New England Regional Administrator Richard A. Walega.

The Green Retrofit Program is designed to create thousands of green jobs as workers retrofit older federally assisted multi-family apartment developments with the next generation of energy efficient technologies. Grants and loans provided through this program help private landlords and property management companies to cut heating and air conditioning costs by installing more efficient heating and cooling systems, and to reduce water use by replacing faucets and toilets. These Recovery Act funds also produce other environmental benefits by encouraging the use
of recycled building materials, reflective roofing, and non-toxic products to reduce potentially harmful 'off-gassing'
of harmful fumes. Funds are awarded to owners of HUD-assisted housing projects and can be used for a wide range
of retrofit activities, ranging from windows/doors to solar panels and geothermal installation.

The Recovery Act included $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, nearly 75 percent of
which was allocated to state and local recipients only eight days after President Obama signed the Act into law.
The remaining 25 percent is being awarded through competitive grant programs, including the Green Retrofit
Program. To date, 100 percent of HUD's Recovery Act grant funds are in the hands of local communities, being
used to improve housing and neighborhoods, while creating jobs. HUD is committed to implementing Recovery Act investments swiftly and effectively as they generate tens of thousands of jobs, modernize homes to make them energy efficient, and help the families and communities hardest hit by the economic crisis.

In addition, Secretary Donovan and the Department are committed to providing the highest level of transparency possible as Recovery Act funds are administered. It is vitally important that the American people are fully aware of how their tax dollars are being spent and can hold their federal leaders accountable. Every dollar of Recovery Act funds HUD spends can be reviewed and tracked at HUD's Recovery Act website. The full text of HUD's funding
notices and tracking of future performance of these grants is also available at HUD's Recovery Act website.

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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 and espanol.hud.gov.