HUD SECRETARY DONOVAN NAMES RICK GARCIA AS HUD'S ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL DIRECTOR

DENVER - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced President Barack
Obama's selection of Denver City Councilman Rick Garcia to serve as HUD Regional Director for the six states in HUD's Rocky Mountain Region which includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Utah.

Garcia will serve as HUD's liaison to mayors, city managers, elected representatives, state and local officials, congressional delegations, stakeholders and customers. He will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of HUD programs and services to communities, as well as evaluating their efficiency and effectiveness.

"When we look to improve communities, this Administration is focused on addressing housing, transportation, education and energy together," explained Donovan. "Rick Garcia understands and embraces the sustainable community concept. When you combine that with his extensive work on the affordable housing front and
foreclosures, he became the ideal candidate for this position."

"I am honored to have been selected and appointed by President Obama to serve as HUD's regional director during
this important time of economic challenge and opportunity in our nation's history. My understanding of western cultures, land use, transportation, housing and community economic development allows me to hit the ground
running and lead the Rocky Mountain region in achieving HUD's national objectives", said Councilman Rick Garcia.

Elected to the Denver City Council in June 2003, Garcia has made economic revitalization, access to new transit projects and business development his priorities. Garcia is a board member and serves as chair of the Denver
Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), and has served as Chairman of the Metro Vision Issues Committee and
as a voting member of the Regional Transportation Committee of DRCOG.

Garcia is also the former Board Chair of the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority of the NEWSED Community Development Corporation and is a founding Community Advisor to the University of Colorado's Latino/a Research and Policy Center.

Prior to being elected as a city council member, he also served as a consultant on Denver business development and government affairs; as senior manager for organizational development, training and Direct Services in the Colorado Department of Administration and Personnel; the state director for Small Business Development and Policy; and president of the Denver Urban Economic Development Corporation.

Garcia has earned numerous state and local awards for his leadership and community advocacy work. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Columbia College and he earned his MPA from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government

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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.

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