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HUD No. 96-150FOR RELEASE
Further Information:Tuesday
In the Washington, DC area: 202/708-0685
Or contact your local HUD officeAugust 27, 1996

HUD AWARDS $2.5 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TO 10 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $2.5 million in grants to help 10 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) establish community development corporations (CDCs).

Through the CDCs, which will receive about $250,000 each, the colleges will help neighborhood groups develop partnerships with local governments, nonprofit agencies and area businesses to spur economic development and neighborhood renewal.

HBCUs receiving grants are: Alabama A&M University, Normal, Ala.; Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.; Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Ark.; Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo.; Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio; Benedict College, Columbia, S.C.; Claflin College and South Carolina State University, both in Orangeburg, S.C.; and St. Paul's College, Lawrenceville, Va.

In addition to the grants, each institution will be eligible for technical assistance and up to $100,000 in low-interest gap loan funding through a $1 million public-private partnership between HUD and the Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation (SEEDCO) of New York. SEEDCO currently is working with 11 other HBCUs that have established CDCs.

"The long-term futures of cities and urban universities in this country are so intertwined that one cannot, or perhaps will not, survive without the other," said HUD Secretary Henry G. Cisneros. "The ten institutions receiving grants today have demonstrated, by the projects they have planned, their understanding of this challenge."

Deputy HUD Secretary Dwight Robinson, who announced the grant recipients, said: "With the help of these grants, colleges and universities can reach out to their communities. They can make available their resources and expertise. They can form the partnerships needed to help create economic opportunities and more livable neighborhoods."

Central State University will use its grant to acquire and rehabilitate a commercial property in nearby Dayton's Innerwest neighborhood as a CDC community outreach center. CSU also will train CDC staff and other personnel to promote homeownership and job opportunities, in collaboration with the city of Dayton.

Benedict College will acquire substandard single-family dwellings for resale to low- and moderate-income families, and acquire substandard commercial property for sale or lease to local service or retail businesses.

Philander Smith College, located in one of HUD's Enterprise communities, will use a portion of its grant to develop a small business incubator and "an incubator without walls" to assist with business development in its CDC target area.

For further information about CDC grants or other special HBCU programs, contact HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development at (202) 708-1590.

 

Content Archived: January 20, 2009

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