HUD ANNOUNCES $406 THOUSAND IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SUMTER, SC

COLUMBIA - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced the State of South Carolina will receive $406,018 thousand to support community development and produce more affordable housing.

"This funding provides the building blocks needed to improve communities," said Donovan. "Now, more than ever,
these grants promote neighborhood development, produce affordable housing, and help extremely low-income
persons find their place in their communities."

Since 1974, HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program has provided approximately $132 billion to state and local governments to target their own community development priorities. The rehabilitation of affordable housing and the improvement of public facilities have traditionally been the largest uses of CDBG although the
program is also an important catalyst for job growth and business opportunities. Annual CDBG funds are distributed
to communities according to a statutory formula based on a community's population, poverty, and age of its housing stock, and extent of overcrowded housing.

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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 at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.