CUOMO ANNOUNCES $2.9 MILLION FOR WORK-STUDY PROGRAM FOR DISADVANTAGED AND MINORITY GRADUATE STUDENTS

WASHINGTON - Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo today announced $2.9 million in grants under a work-study program to help pay college expenses of more than 100 low-income and minority graduate students preparing for careers in community planning and development.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Work Study Program will fund two-year grants to institutions of higher education, and regional planning organizations. The grants will be used to provide up to $15,000 per year in work stipends to individual students for two years to help pay for college tuition, travel and books.

The grants will go to 24 colleges and universities and one metropolitan government organization in: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.

"HUD's investment will help train a new generation of experts who will help revitalize our nation's cities in the 21st century," Cuomo said. "Their work will bring new opportunity to people and places across our nation."

The Community Development Work Study Program is administered by HUD's Office of University Partnerships. Established in 1994, the office is a catalyst for joining colleges and universities with their communities in a shared search for answers to pressing urban problems.

The grants will go to:

• Auburn University (AL) $ 90,000
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (AL) $120,000
• Arkansas State University (AR) $113,920
• University of California at Berkeley (CA) $120,000
• University of Colorado at Denver (CO) $ 90,000
• Florida State University (FL) $118,500
• University of Illinois at Chicago (IL) $120,000
• Indiana University (IN) $109,604
• Kansas State University (KS) $118,060
• Southern University (LA) $117,000
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA) $ 90,000
• University of Michigan (MI) $ 90,000
• Minnesota State University (MN) $118,000
• University of Nebraska at Omaha (NE) $112,408
• New Hampshire College (NH) $120,000
• Rutgers University (NJ) $120,000
• Hunter College (NY) $120,000
• Pratt Institute (NY) $ 90,000
• State University of New York at Buffalo (NY) $120,000
• University of Cincinnati (OH) $ 97,760
• Carnegie Mellon University (PA) $120,000
• University of Pennsylvania (PA) $120,000
• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (TN) $120,000
• University of Texas at El Paso (TX) $120,000
• North Central Texas Council of Governments (TX) $263,388
  (Grant encompasses three universities: University of North Texas, University of Texas at Dallas, and the University of Texas at Arlington.)