HUD AWARDS NEARLY $1 MILLION TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO REVITALIZED DOWNTOWN AREA OF MARTIN, SOUTH DAKOTA
Six small towns receive $5.5 million to include affordable housing to "Main Street" revitalization

SIOUX FALLS - The downtown area of Martin, South Dakota, will get a housing makeover due to a $977,500 grant announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding is designed to expand
the production of affordable housing to the rural community's historic central business district or "Main Street" area.

HUD Regional Administrator Rick Garcia said that the City of Martin is among six communities with populations less
than 50,000 that will receive funding under HUD's HOPE VI Main Street program to encourage affordable housing production in their city centers. With approximately 1,100 residents, Martin is the economic hub for Bennett County and the largest town in the region.

"Raising capital to build affordable housing can be a challenge when small towns give their downtowns a facelift,"
said Garcia. "This funding provides Martin the tools it needs to create affordable housing for lower income families
so they can share with the broader revitalization of their downtown."

Through this effort, the Martin Main Street Area Rejuvenation (MMSAR) will reconfigure the 'Gambles Building,'
which has been vacant for the past 15 years. The City plans to construct four affordable rental units on the second floor of the building, accessible to the handicapped via elevator, and reconfigure the first floor into 12 rooms
providing inexpensive commercial space for use by businesses, community organizations and local government agencies. With this strategy, MMSAR will facilitate economic growth in the downtown area by increasing the amount of available commercial space.

These grants are issued through HUD's HOPE VI Main Street program that allows small towns include affordable housing in their ongoing effort to revitalize older, downtown business districts. A portion of HOPE VI funds are set aside to create the Main Street program for small communities that do not have local housing authorities or have
one that manages less than 100 public housing units. The funds are used to rehabilitate or construct affordable housing in the area where rejuvenation has already begun.

Also receiving 2009-2010 Main Street funding are Kit Carson, Colorado; the Municipality of Coamo, Puerto Rico; Hawkinsville, Georgia; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Wrangell, Alaska.

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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.