CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $6.5 MILLION IN GRANTS TO 17 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

"For far too long, historically black colleges and universities were the only avenue of opportunity open to African Americans seeking a higher education," President Clinton said. "Today, with our record assistance, these schools continue to produce some of our brightest minds and are reaching beyond the college gates to transform impoverished neighborhoods into outposts of the American Dream."

The recipients of the Department of Housing and Urban Development grants are in: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C.

Each of the 17 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) will receive up to $400,000 for a variety of activities, including housing rehabilitation, community center development, small business enhancement, and job creation and training.

"We are proud to work in partnership with historically black colleges and universities to help them improve not only the lives of their students, but the lives of their communities," Cuomo said. "These schools can serve as powerful engines to revitalize surrounding neighborhoods with job creation and training, new business development and expanded homeownership."

President Clinton has designated this week as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, to recognize the schools' long record of achievement. In 1993, he signed an Executive Order expanding the role of HBCU's in national affairs.

Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert said: "HUD's continued support for the University, and for our nation's historically black colleges and universities allows us to more effectively expand our own redevelopment initiatives, support the activities of our local development partners, and leverage other private and public resources available for use in the revitalization of our neighborhoods."

"HUD has long recognized the significant role that HBCUs play as the cornerstone of their communities," said HUD Deputy Secretary Dwight Robinson, who spearheads the Department's outreach to HBCU's. "In many instances HBCUs are providing not only educational opportunities, but serving as economic anchors to the neighborhoods surrounding them."

HUD has awarded over $43 million to HBCU's to stimulate economic and community development activities nationwide since 1992.

The recipients of the FY 1997 grants are:

Oakwood College, Huntsville, AL	$380,000
Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL	$400,000
Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, AR	$400,000
Howard University, Washington, DC	$370,000
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL	$350,000
Morris Brown College, Atlanta, GA	$400,000
Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY	$400,000
Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA	$330,000
Jackson State University, Jackson, MS	$400,000
Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS	$400,000
Saint Augustine's College, Raleigh, NC	$400,000
Bennett College, Greensboro, NC	$300,000
Elizabeth City State Univ., Elizabeth City, NC	$393,000
Fayetteville State Univ., Fayetteville, NC	$400,000
Winston Salem St. Univ., Winston Salem, NC	$377,000
Voorhees College, Denmark, SC	$400,000
Wiley College, Marshall, TX	$400,000

In addition to Swygert, Cuomo was joined at the grant announcement by the following HBCU officials: President Samuel D. Jolley, Jr., of Morris Brown College; President Ronald L. Swain of Wiley College; President Ernest McNealy of Stillman College; President Delbert Baker of Oakwood College; Jerome Greene, Chancellor of Southern University; President William T. Keaton of Arkansas Baptist College; President Mary Smith of Kentucky State University; President Gloria R. Scott of Bennett College; President Joe A. Lee of Tougaloo College; Alvin Schexnider, Chancellor of Winston-Salem State University; Mildred J. Allen, Executive Vice President of Jackson State University; and Furney Brown, Assistant to the President of Saint Augustine's College.

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