CUOMO KICKS OFF TWO-DAY VISIT TO ALASKA AND ANNOUNCES $79 MILLION IN AID - INCLUDING $62 MILLION FOR ALASKA NATIVES

NOTE: -List of individual grant recipients and grant amounts attached.
-Radio actualities of Secretary Cuomo and Gov. Knowles available at 800-478-5669

JUNEAU, ALASKA - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today began two days of meetings in Alaska by announcing $79 million in assistance for programs to create affordable housing, jobs and economic opportunity - including $62 million going directly to Alaska Natives.

The assistance to Alaska Natives is the first installment of $94 million being delivered to tribes in Alaska this year under the newly implemented Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) - up by more than one-third from $68.5 million in HUD assistance to Alaska Natives last year.

Cuomo is meeting with government, business, community and Alaska Native leaders during his visit to the state, and is traveling to Juneau, Anchorage, Kasigluk and Bethel.

After meeting with Governor Tony Knowles at the State Capitol this morning to kick off his Alaska visit, Cuomo said: "I've come to Alaska because there's no better way to learn about this vast state than to see it firsthand and meet its people. We want you to tell us what your needs are, and how we can help you meet those needs. When I return to Washington, the knowledge I gain on this trip will help me work to make HUD a more effective partner in supporting the efforts of Alaskans to build a better future."

NAHASDA gives all 236 Alaska tribal entities more authority to determine how to use HUD assistance and directs HUD assistance to areas with the greatest needs. The Act reorganized the system of federal housing grants to Alaska Natives and provides tribes with stability by awarding them annual grants that enable them to plan their activities with the knowledge of future funding. The Act allows tribes, for the first time, to receive funds directly from HUD instead of through regional housing authorities.

The goal of the Act is to help create and support affordable housing and provide housing services for low-income Alaska Natives in their own communities. In addition to enabling tribes to use HUD funds for the first time for homeownership programs and for transitional housing for homeless people, NAHASDA will fund new home construction, job training, housing rehabilitation, energy auditing, crime prevention and safety activities.

"The funding we're announcing today empowers Alaska Natives for the first time to decide how to spend HUD assistance and it targets assistance to areas with the greatest need," Cuomo said. "This will strengthen our partnership with Alaska Natives and give them the decision-making role they are entitled to in determining their own future."

Governor Knowles said: "The $79 million check that Secretary Cuomo has given Alaska will be used for critical housing and support for so many deserving Alaska families. It is also timely that Secretary Cuomo will visit rural regions of our state devastated by low salmon returns and see the needs of those facing a bleak winter ahead because they could not harvest the salmon that sustains them."

Senator Ted Stevens, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which funds HUD programs, said: "It's great news that the Department has released the funds we specifically requested and earmarked in last year's appropriations for the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Sheldon Point washeteria and water treatment plant, Alaska One training facilities and equipment, and Covenant House renovation. The housing and community development funds that Secretary Cuomo is announcing, most of them made available under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act that Congress passed in 1996, will provide important assistance to many of our communities."

Senator Frank Murkowski said: "Given the huge need for additional housing -- 56,000 units of Native housing needed nationwide, not counting the thousands in Alaska -- it's welcome news that HUD is providing a boost in funding to help improve low-income housing. Affordable, sound housing and efforts to prevent and care for the homeless are not a luxury in Alaska, but a vital necessity in a state where winters in substandard dwellings can be life-threatening."

Congressman Don Young said: "I am delighted with this announcement by HUD. The $79 million will provide much needed assistance to Alaska's unique housing and community development situations. In addition, the grants will assist in the ongoing work to create new jobs and provide opportunities to Alaskan Natives. I am also glad that during his trip to Alaska, Secretary Cuomo was able to see first-hand the challenges our state faces."

Cities and counties in Alaska will receive funds from HUD for a broad range of activities through Community Development Block Grants, the HOME Investment Partnership program and Emergency Shelter Grant funds for homeless programs.

Among the housing and community development efforts to be funded in Alaska this year with the HUD assistance are: public facilities; economic development; homeless prevention; shelter operations; homeowner rehabilitation; and a homebuyer assistance program.

HUD is also making available funding under the Economic Development Initiative program, which is designed to create jobs and economic development in distressed communities.

HUD funding to Alaska is part of the Department's Consolidated Planning process, which was developed by Cuomo when he served as HUD Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.

The process ensures that local residents have strong input into the creation of comprehensive, community-based housing and economic development plans. The streamlined process gives communities maximum local flexibility, while reducing burdensome regulatory requirements. Local HUD staff are empowered to work closely with communities to customize Consolidated Plans and help them realize their housing and economic development goals.

GRANTEE AND PROGRAM	AMOUNT AND USE
NAHASDA
AVCP Housing Authority	$16,590,766 to provide maintenance and operation of Act units and for new homeownership units in eight villages.
Aleutian Housing Authority	$2,902,580 for development of single family homes in Unalaska and rental units in St. George.
Bering Straits Regional HA	$6,171,570 to modernize and renovate existing homeownership and rental units and develop new units.
Bristol Bay Housing Authority	$4,386,295 for housing modernization and assist Boys and Girls Clubs.
Cook Inlet Housing Authority	$11,406,197 to assist homebuyers with qualifying for mortgages and housing rehabilitation.
Copper River Basin Reg. HA	$1,389,789 to conduct a comprehensive housing needs assessment.
Kodiak Island Housing Authority	$3,405,663 for rental assistance and establish a journeyman and maintenance repair apprenticeship program.
Northwest Inupiat Housing Authority	$4,660,500 to construct single family homes and modernization.
Tagiugmiullu Nunamiullu HA	$4,217,703 to develop single family homes and provide rehabilitation services.
Tlingit-Haida Regional HA	$6,977,139 for modernization and new construction programs.
EDI
Covenant House Alaska	$1,000,000 to acquire and renovate a downtown facility to house a service center for youth and transitional housing for other clients served by the organization.
KTOO Public TV Station	$1,500,000 for training facilities and equipment for Alaska One to improve and expand public television stations in Fairbanks, Bethel and Juneau.
Sheldon Point (washeteria)	$500,000 will be an off-set, applied toward the reconstruction of the washeteria and a water treatment plant located at a common site.
Alaska Native Heritage Cultural Center	$2,000,000 for installation of exhibitry and equipment relating to contemporary Alaska Native life and outdoor village exhibits.
Bristol Bay HA Vocational Ed. Center	$2,000,000 to reconstruct an existing U.S. Air Force dormitory and office facility into a Vocational Education Center providing services to 30 villages of the Bristol Bay region.
Consolidated Funding Plan
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation HOME	$3,000,000 to increase homeownership opportunities; rental assistance; and new construction.
State of Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs CDBG ESG	The funds will include economic development; rental assistance; emergency shelter for homeless; and renovations. $3,136,000 $122,000
Municipality of Anchorage HOME CBDG ESG	The funds will assist homelessness prevention; community development; and infrastructure improvements. $897,000 $2,225,000 $90,000