HUD AWARDS $500,000 TO MINNESOTA HOUSING PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING IN MINNESOTA AND SOUTH DAKOTA

CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a $500,000 grant to The Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) to help rural communities in South Dakota and Minnesota to stimulate their local economies, produce more affordable housing and boost job growth. The funding is provided through HUD's Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Program.

Through funding of national organizations with expertise in rural housing and community development, the Rural Capacity Building program enhances the capacity and ability of local governments, Indian tribes, housing development organizations, rural Community Development Corporations (CDCs), and Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) to carry out community development and affordable housing activities that benefit low- and moderate-income families and persons in rural areas.

The Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) will provide capacity building to the rural Rosebud Indian reservation in South Dakota, the Ojinintka Housing Development Corporation and the Sicangu Wicoti Awayankapi Corporation. MHP will also endeavor to develop the 600 acre Keya Wakpala Green Development Project. Additionally, the plan proposes the development of a self-sufficient, interconnected green community providing 100 new affordable housing units on tribal lands west of the City of Mission, South Dakota.

MHP will also provide capacity building assistance to the Central Minnesota Housing Partnership, the primary housing development organization serving the region, to successfully carry out the affordable housing and community development activities identified through the HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant awarded to the region in 2010, and to address the critical affordable housing and community/economic development needs in the region while affirmatively furthering fair housing.

During the economic crisis, the need for affordable housing has only increased. The success of federal, state and local efforts to stabilize their housing markets relies on the capacity of local governments, Indian tribes, housing development organizations, rural community development corporations (CDCs), and rural community housing development organizations (CHDOs) to develop and implement effective housing and community development plans. Rural communities have unique challenges in meeting these needs. The funding provided through this program is intended to help these communities, Indian tribes and nonprofit development organizations to develop the skills and technical capabilities necessary to undertake effective community development activities.

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