DONOVAN ANNOUNCES $65 MILLION IN AVAILABLE FUNDING TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN INDIAN COUNTRY
HUD Secretary and Sen. Johnson offer grant funding during visit to Rosebud Sioux Tribe in SD

SIOUX FALLS, SD - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan traveled to a Native American community in South Dakota today to announce $65 million in available funding to support a variety of community development and affordable housing production in Indian country throughout the U.S. Donovan made the announcement following a tour of the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota with Senator Tim Johnson.

"This funding will provide the building blocks needed to improve our Native American communities," said Donovan. "Now, more than ever, these grants are critical to promote neighborhood development, produce affordable housing, and help extremely low-income persons find their place in their own communities."

Senator Johnson added, "During today's visit to the Rosebud Reservation, Secretary Donovan and I spoke to people who face the daily challenge of finding safe and stable housing for their families. I am hopeful that today's announcement will serve as an important step forward in revitalizing communities and improving access to quality housing in Native American communities in South Dakota and throughout our country."

The grant funding being offered to Native American communities will be awarded competitively through HUD's Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) program. The ICDBG program provides eligible grantees with direct grants for use in developing viable Indian and Alaska Native Communities, including decent housing, a suitable living environment and economic opportunities, primarily for low- and moderate-income persons.

ICDBG funds may be used to improve housing, community facilities and infrastructure. In addition the program helps to expand job opportunities by supporting the economic development of the communities, especially by nonprofit tribal organizations or local development corporations. HUD will reserve up to $3.96 million of the available funding to help Native American communities to address imminent threats to health or safety that require immediate solutions. Those 'Imminent Threat Grants' will be awarded on a first-come basis to eligible applicants.

HUD's Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) makes clear that ICDBG grants will be awarded to Native American and Alaska Native communities on a regional basis at levels similar to those last year.

Eligible applicants for ICDBG grants include any Indian tribe, band, group, or nation (including Alaska Indians, Aleut, and Eskimos) or Alaska Native village which has established a relationship to the Federal government as defined in the program's rules. In certain instances, tribal organizations may be eligible to apply. Once again, grant applications will be submitted online through the government-wide grants.gov portal.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.