VICE PRESIDENT GORE AND SECRETARY CUOMO ANNOUNCE $1.81 MILLION IN HUD ASSISTANCE FOR MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN

WASHINGTON - Vice President Al Gore and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today announced $1.81 million in HUD grants for housing and community development programs in Muskegon, Michigan.

"We are empowering communities to shape their future by giving them new flexibility to determine how to best use federal assistance," Vice President Gore said. "We know that the people of Muskegon are the best experts on improving their community, and we want to help them achieve their goals."

Under Muskegon's 1998 Consolidated Plan for funding, which was approved today by HUD, Muskegon will receive $1.3 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and $477,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership program. Among the local housing and community development efforts to be funded this year are: housing rehabilitation grant and loan programs; economic/commercial development; public improvements; commercial and residential clearance and code enforcement; public services; and new, infill housing construction.

"These funds will go toward community-based solutions to the housing and economic development challenges Muskegon faces," Cuomo said. "We are funding a comprehensive strategy to create jobs and affordable housing, help homeless individuals become and remain self-sufficient, and increase homeownership."

The Vice President and the Secretary told Muskegon Mayor Fred Nielsen of the assistance today during the White House Community Empowerment Conference in Washington. The Conference, attended by Mayor Nielsen, brought together about 2,000 local government officials, representatives of community development groups, business executives and others to discuss ways to revitalize communities and create jobs.

Those attending also came to learn more about President Clinton's proposal to create 15 new urban and five new rural Empowerment Zones, which would use performance grants and tax incentives to stimulate job creation and economic development.