HUD AWARDS $3 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN MONTANA
Grants support critical projects in tribal areas to address housing, community development and jobs

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $2.9 million to three tribal communities in Montana to improve housing conditions, promote community development and to spur local economies with construction projects and jobs. The competitive grants awarded are part of HUD's Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program that addresses a wide variety of community development and affordable housing activities for low- to moderate-income families (see grant chart and summaries below).

"These grants are a step forward in forging solutions to improve the housing and economic conditions for some of our country's most culturally rich neighborhoods," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "I'm impressed at the energy and creativity in how these communities are leveraging public funds to create lasting solutions for countless families."

The funding to Montana awarded today is part of $56 million HUD announced today to tribal communities throughout the nation. The recipients will use these grants to develop viable communities including rehabilitating housing or building new homes or to purchase land to support new housing construction. The funding can also used to build infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer facilities. To stimulate economic development and job growth, recipients use the grants to establish commercial, industrial and agricultural projects. Recipients also use the funding to build community and health centers, or to start businesses to support the community including shopping centers, manufacturing plants, restaurants or convenience stores and gas stations. Specific examples of this sort of economic and community development include:

• The Chippewa Cree Tribe in Montana will use its $900,000 grant to fund the Smallville Water Improvement Project which consists of the construction of a 50,000 gallon concrete water storage facility, booster pump stations and water lines to serve 22 households. The tribe will provide leverage in the amount of $461,572 for this project.
  
  
• The Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority will use its grant of $900,000 to rehabilitate 27 owner-occupied housing units located on scattered sites throughout the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Each of the units will be used to serve the housing needs of low- to moderate-income Native Americans. Priority will be given to elderly and/or disabled homeowners. The project is leveraged with $300,000 in Indian Housing Block Grant funds.
  
  
• Salish & Kootenai Housing Authority - Two project types will be funded with this grant of $1,100,000. A portion of the grant will be used to fund the rehabilitation of 14 owner-occupied housing units and 3 rental units. The rental units will be made handicapped-accessible. Each of the units will be used to serve the housing needs of low- to moderate-income Native Americans. This project is leveraged with $255,000 in Indian Housing Block Grant funds. The remainder of the grant will be used to provide homebuyer counseling, down-payment assistance and assistance to prevent foreclosures. Up to 100 families will receive homebuyer education/counseling and another 20 families will either receive down-payment assistance or funding to prevent foreclosures. All of the families assisted will be low to moderate income Native Americans. This project is leveraged with $155,000 in Indian Housing Block Grant and other funds.

The ICDBG program was established in 1977 to help Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages to meet their community development needs. Federally recognized tribes, bands, groups, nations or eligible tribal organizations compete for this funding.

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