HUD Offices Receive Award
for PATH Partnership

In recognition of National Community Development Week (March 24th through March 30th), the City of Omaha, Nebraska gave a 2008 Community Excellence Award to a partnership between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Brighton Construction Company that created a model for energy efficient affordable housing. HUD's Regional Director Macie L. Houston accepted the award from Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey for a development that implemented HUD's PATH (Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing) concept. The Omaha HUD Office and Brighton Construction were honored for their work and dedication in servicing housing and community development needs of the City, and for their role in building the nations first PATH house in Omaha.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in partnership with Brighton Construction Company, recently completed America's first PATH Concept Home, featuring more than 60 efficient, sustainable and flexible products and systems. PATH demonstrates a blueprint for the future of housing across America in that it meets ENERGY STAR, Environments for Living, Green Building and Federal Housing Administration accessibility criteria.

The development of the PATH Concept Home in Omaha received broad support from the community and the City. The City of Omaha donated a site for the PATH Concept Home to be built on a corner lot nestled among new affordable homes and historic bungalows, convenient to the downtown and Creighton University. Together with the support of HUD's Office of Housing and the regional environmental staff, Brighton Construction created an innovative model home, not only for its accessibility, efficiency and flexibility, but also for its affordability and ease to maintain and renovate. Fernando Pages of Brighton Construction was also on hand to accept the award.