News Release

HUD AWARDS $899,871 TO THREE OREGON ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Community & Shelter Assistance, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Umatilla Reservation Housing Authority win 2008 Rural Housing and Economic Development grants

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steven Preston today competitively awarded $16.9 million to 60 rural housing programs across the country to stimulate economic development, create jobs and produce more affordable housing.

In Oregon, Community & Shelter Assistance in Newberg won $300,000, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in Siletz won $299,87 1and the Umatilla Reservation Housing Authority in Pendleton won $300,000 in 2008 HUD Rural Housing and Economic Development grants.

"HUD is deeply invested in promoting affordable housing and community development throughout rural America," said Preston. "These grants will stimulate the kind of employment, economic growth, and housing development that will have a direct impact on working families in our rural communities."

• The Confederated Tribe of Siletz Indians in Siletz will use its $299,871 RHED grant to construct six unit affordable housing for the Siletz Tribal Elder complex. The project is expected to leverage $260,000 in other investments.



• The Umatilla Reservation Housing Authority in Pendleton will use its $300,000 RHED grant to support 10 elderly housing units and to provide homeownership counseling, financial literacy, road infrastructure, small business and home loans. The project is expected to leverage $215,391 in other investments.



• The Community & Shelter Assistance Corporation in Newberg will use its $300,000 RHED grant to support its Community Development Financial Institute which provides very low interest predevelopment loans to nonprofit cooperatives to acquire land that will preserve affordable housing. The project is expected to leverage $7,131,000 in other investments.

RHED grants help pay for land acquisition, new home construction, housing demolition, infrastructure improvements and construction training. Other possible uses include homeownership and financial counseling; financial assistance to homeowners, businesses and developers; creating microenterprises and small business incubators; and establishing lines of credit or revolving loan pools to benefit the local business community. In addition to the funding announced today, rural communities are expected to generate nearly $59 million from other public and private sources to promote economic development and employment.

Qualified applicants are local rural nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, federally recognized Indian tribes, State housing finance agencies and/or local economic development agencies. RHED grants have provided nearly $223 million, creating/training more than 35,000 jobs, assisting nearly 5,500 businesses and producing 14,000 affordable homes.

Rural communities will use this funding as seed money to pay the start-up costs for housing or economic development projects. These grants will also help organizations to hire and train their staffs, develop strategic plans and acquire office space and other needed facilities.

The following communities won 2008 HUD Rural Housing and Economic Development grants:

FY 2008 RURAL HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARDS