Hispanic-serving Institutions Assisting Communities Program
FY 1999 Awardees

St. Philip's College will receive a Hispanic-serving Institutions Assisting Communities Program grant of $397,867 to create a Community Neighbo rhood Improvement Academy, as a vehicle for promoting economic development in San Antonio's Empowerment Zone (EZ). Over half of the residents in the Zone are living below the poverty level, with 60 percent of the Zone residents either unemployed or not participating in the labor market.

The project calls for EZ residents to learn home repair and job skills. Specifically, the Academy will offer residents self-help training programs in carpentry and electrical and plumbing skills. It will also house a tool library so that residents can borrow tools for housing repairs and renovations. In addition, the academy will offer homeownership workshops on home financing and improvements and neighborhood improvement workshops on community clean up programs, neighborhood watch clubs, and graffiti removal programs.

Contact: Dr. Federico Zaragoza or Juan Armendariz, 210-921-4615

Content Archived: January 20, 2009