HUD Lines

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E-Briefs from the Richmond Office of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

TAX-TORIAL
Looking for a stimulus package? Try the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Last year it meant $10.6 million in tax refunds to Virginia families earning less than $29,000 a year. Good news, right? But the bad news is that a quarter of eligible families didn't apply. Find out how you can help families get the EITC they deserve at a free HUD Richmond teletutorial from 11 a.m. to Noon, Thursday, February 7th. To participate, contact Anne Davis at anne.davis@hud.gov or call (804) 822-4802.

ONWARD SELF SUFFICIENCY!
HUD has awarded $1.6 million in Family Self-Sufficiency grants to VHDA and housing authorities in Bristol, Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Danville, Hampton, Harrisonburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Roanoke, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Waynesboro and Fairfax, James City and Loudoun counties. The funds will help public housing residents or voucher holders complete their educations or acquire more job skills. Some families, says HUD Secretary Jackson, “have become homeowners or debt-free as a result of this program.”

BRIEF BRIEFS
The Planning Council and cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach hosting South Hampton Roads Conference on Ending Homelessness at Portsmouth Renaissance February 5 th . . .Governor Kaine announces $1.9 million in federal Abandoned Mine Land funds to connect 110 households in Buchanan and Lee counties to public water systems. . .Accomack-Northampton housing authority begins first 5 homes in its Metompkin project. . .EPA says sales of Energy Star compact fluorescent bulbs almost doubled in 2007 and now comprise 20 percent of all bulbs sold in U.S. . .USDA/Rural Development awards $448,200 to Virginia Community Capital in Christiansburg to re-lend to “finance small businesses and community development projects in rural areas. . .Cities of Galax and Waynesboro and Halifax and Wise counties designated as Virginia enterprise zones permitting them to use state and local incentives to promote economic and job development. . . Virginia Association of REALTORS holds annual legislative & education conference in Richmond February 12 th to 15 th . . .Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing okays $8 million upgrade of 260-unit Mission College Apartments. . .Students studying philanthropy at University of Mary Washington award $7,500 from the Doris Buffett Sunshine Lady Foundation to NHT/Enterprise Preservation Corporation to establish after school program at its Hazel Hill apartment complex in Fredericksburg . . . Annual conference of Development District Association of Appalachia focuses on the people, the workforce and the economy of Appalachia February 24 th to 26 th at Crystal City Marriott in Arlington. . .Office of Violence Against Women soliciting applications from nonprofits to provide transitional housing, legal assistance and other services to victims of domestic violence at http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/currentsolicitations.htm with letters of intent to apply due in early February.

FUNDING-MENTALS
Learn everything you need to know about applying for HUD and other Federal grants at a free, three-day “A-B-C's of Grantwriting. . .and MORE” workshop for faith and community-based organizations from March 4th to 6th at Hampton University. To register, contact anne.davis@hud.gov or call her at (804) 822-4802.

BANK BOOST
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta has announced the 2008 offering of its First Time Homebuyer Program that, through its member financial institutions, provides matching funds for down payments and closing costs. The funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve, homebuyer-by-homebuyer basis with a maximum award of $10,000 per first-time buyer. No Bank member may receive more than $1 million per offering, unless less than 75 percent of the funds have not been allocated by July 31st. Some 25 Virginia financial institutions participate in the program. For more, contact (800) 536-9650 ext. 8436, or visit http://corp.fhlbatl.com/CommunityInvestment.aspx?id=118.

MAKE SOME HISTORY
The National Trust for Historic Preservation and HUD are seeking nominations for the 2008 Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. Any project completed within the last 3 years is eligible. Nominations are due at the National Trust by March 1st. For details, please visit http://www.huduser.org/research/secaward.html#hist

BRIEF BRIEFS TOO
HUD Regional Director John Bravacos speaks at winter meeting of Virginia Association of Housing & Community Development Officials February 24th to 26th at Richmond OMNI. . . Homeward issues 10-year plan to prevent and end homelessness in Richmond . . . Governor Kaine names Carol Saulnier of Falls Church to Board of Housing & Community Development, Jim Ginnell of Mechanicsville to Fair Housing Board and Saba Shami as Chief Deputy at DPOR. . . Daily Press reports grand opening of Boys & Girls Club at Marshall Courts public housing thanks to Department of Justice grant. . .SBA's Richmond office says 6 lenders – Bank of the Commonwealth, Cardinal Bank, Innovative Bank, Resource Bank, Superior Financial Group and Surrey Bank & Trust – now provide veterans with preferential pricing on SBA-backed loans. . .LISC's Greta Harris named to Federal Reserve's Consumer Advisory Panel. . . Danville Register Bee says City Council vote to “hand over” disposition of city-owned houses to Danville Redevelopment & Housing is “first step in speeding up” revitalization in Westmoreland area. . .H.O.M.E., Inc. hosts Housing Professionals Forum February 21st at Sheraton West in Richmond. . . News Leader says Staunton-Waynesboro Habitat ready to move into new offices in basement – “yum, yum” - of Mrs. Rowe's Catering in Staunton. . .American Planning Association declares Richmond's Monument Avenue one of 10 Great American Streets. . . Center for Housing Policy says Richmond was 74th and Virginia Beach 83rd most expensive homeownership markets. . .HUD Richmond okays $3 million, 60-bed addition to the Beaufont Health Care Center in Richmond. . .Brenda Galen named executive director of Welcome Home CDC in Suffolk. . .Richmond chapter of International Association of Business Communicators confers 7 “best in Virginia” awards on VHDA. . .USDA sets May 31st deadline for nonprofits to apply for grants of up to $993.000 to establish low-interest, revolving loan funds for household well systems. . .Bristol Redevelopment & Housing to move first two residents into 26-unit Sapling Grove mixed finance complex in February. . .With this issue, Virginia HUD Lines completes 7th year of publication.

DON’T FORGET
“It Can Happen Here – the 2008 Virginia Emergency Management Conference,” March 11th to 14th at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. For more, please visit http://www.vemaweb.com/

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