SAN ANTONIO AND BROWNSVILLE RECEIVE $1.8 MILLION IN HUD GRANTS FOR YOUTH SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING

FORT WORTH, TX - One hundred and ten Texas young people who never finished high school will get a second
chance to receive their diplomas because of $1.8 million in grants announced today by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. The grants are part of $54 million HUD is awarding through its Youthbuild Program to offer job training and leadership skills to young people while putting them back on a path toward graduation.

These grants will help train them for a future in the construction trades while producing more homes for lower
income families, many facing homelessness.

"This funding will offer hope and opportunity to young men and women across the country," said Jackson.
"Youthbuild enables them to return to the classroom, acquire construction skills and put their minds and hands to
work producing more affordable housing in their own communities."

The following Texas communities will receive funding:

Young people who enroll in local Youthbuild programs lack high school diplomas and the job skills necessary to find meaningful employment. The funding announced today will help young men and women, ages 16-to-24, to receive their high school equivalency diplomas and provide them training in homebuilding skills that will qualify them for
careers in the building industry.

Program participants will receive on-the-job training in the building trades and help build and renovate homes that
are then sold at affordable prices to low- and very low-income persons as well as homeless individuals and families.
In addition, these grants are anticipated to generate millions of additional dollars from other public and private sources.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; 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 as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

###

San Antonio Youth Centers, Inc. will use its Youthbuild grant of $700,000 to train 30 youth and rehabilitate two houses. Major partners include: the Palmer Drug Abuse Program; Sterling Bank; San Antonio Housing Authority; 21st Century Leadership Center at St. Mary's University; Westfield Construction, L.P.; San Antonio Food Bank (SAFB); Spurs Sports & Entertainment, GWW Investments Inc.; the Neighborhood Action Department of the City of San Antonio; and the Associated Builders and Constractor's Inc. - South Texas Chapter.

The George Gervin Youth Center, Inc. will use its $700,000 Youthbuild grant to train 60 youth and build two houses. Major partners include: the San Antonio Housing Authority; the City of San Antonio; Alamo Workforce
Board; George Gervin Academy Charter School; Merced Housing Texas; and Broadway National Bank.

The Community Development Corporation of Brownsville will use its $400,000 Youthbuild grant to train 20
youth and construct five houses. Major partners include: the University of Texas at Brownsvile in partnership with Texas Southmost College; Brownsville Adult Literacy Center; Wells Fargo Bank; and the Home Depot.