HUD AWARDS $2.1 MILLION TO ALASKA & WASHINGTON UNIVERSITIES
AND COLLEGES
Awards to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, Northwest Indian College
in Bellingham and Yakima Valley Community College Among 21 Colleges Nationwide to Win HUD Grants

SEATTLE - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston today awarded grants totaling
$2,149,965 to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks Interior Aleutian campus, the Northwest Indian College in Bellingham and Yakima Valley Community College to expand, renovate, and equip their own facilities, to improve student housing, and to support construction of new facilities.

The awards were among 21 nationwide announced today by the Secretary that totaled $13,955,080. Many of the institutions that won the competitively-awarded HUD serve remote areas and a growing number of local residents depend heavily on the education, counseling, health, and employment services they offer.

"These institutions of higher learning are critical to the health and vitality of their communities," said Preston. "HUD and these tribal colleges and universities are working hand-in-hand to improve their facilities so they can continue
to be a vital resource for their students, faculty and the communities they serve."

The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Interior Aleutians Campus will use its $799,965 HUD Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities (AN/NHIAC) grant to work with the Interior Regional Housing Authority
and with the Cold Climate Housing Research Center to renovate the Gaalee'ya Spirit Camp, a culture camp used for nearly 20 years for the healing of young people struggling with substance abuse, suicide, and academic failure. To qualify for an Alaska Native grant, at least 20 percent of an institution's undergraduate enrollment must be Alaska Native.

The Northwest Indian College in Bellingham, WA will to use its $750,000 HUD Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) grant to construct a new Center for Student Success; and to renovate and maintain existing facilities. The new student center is one of the key facilities required to become a fully functioning four-year,
degree granting institution. In addition, each of the 15 North Campus buildings is in need of renovations or maintenance, including new roofs, windows, doors and heating/cooling systems.

Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC) will use its $600,000 HUD Hispanic-Serving Institutions Assisting Communities (HSIAC) grant to build a library in partnership with the City of Grandview. The library will be located
on the Grandview Campus and near the downtown area in a centralized location. As a public facility it will serve all members of the community with specific resources for low- and moderate-income individuals. The college will also offer a yearly series of seminars in English and Spanish to the public within the library once it is completed in partnership with local chambers of commerce and the University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business and Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Yakima Valley. To qualify for an HSIAC grant, at least 25 percent of an institution's undergraduate enrollment must be Hispanic.

For more information about HUD's programs for colleges and universities, visit its Office of University Programs at www.oup.org.

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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 and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the
Internet and espanol.hud.gov.