Johanns Announces More Than $9.8 Million In Grants To Repair Or Rehabilitate Rural Low-Income Housing

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the award of $9.8 million to organizations across the country for the repair or rehabilitation of housing in rural areas. The organizations will use the funds to preserve 2,458 housing units, including individual housing, rental properties, or housing cooperatives owned or occupied by very low- and low-income rural residents.

"Rural Development’s housing programs are an integral part of the Bush Administration’s commitment to improve the quality of life in rural communities" said Johanns. "This preservation program helps people with limited resources keep their homes, and it provides the means for rural residents to stay in their communities"

The grants were awarded under the USDA Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant Program. Through this program, USDA Rural Development makes grants to nonprofit organizations, local governments and Native American tribes to renovate existing low-income multi-family rental units. Funds may also be used by recipients to help individuals make repairs to private homes.

Funds can be used to upgrade a number of individual housing units, which in some cases affects the housing options in an entire community. Recipients of Housing Preservation Grants are often able to leverage the funds with additional resources from private sources or local governments.

Among the grant recipients announced today was the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, which will receive $50,000 to repair or rehabilitate seven housing units in rural Alaska. The St. Landry Parish Community Action Agency will receive $156,966 to preserve 28 units of housing in rural Louisiana. A complete list of the grant recipients is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/newsroom/news.htm.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in rural communities. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development has invested over $72 billion since the beginning of the Bush Administration to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Over 1.2 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

Contact Information

Kristin Scuderi

U.S. Department of Agriculture

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