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BUSH ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $10.7 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TO 22 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

WASHINGTON - Twenty-two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) will receive $10.7 million to revitalize distressed neighborhoods near their campuses by expanding their role and effectiveness in neighborhood revitalization, housing, and economic development HUD Deputy Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced today.

"President Bush is deeply committed to black colleges and universities and their efforts to help open the doors of opportunity in the African-American community," said Jackson who announced the grants at a conference sponsored by the White House Initiative on HBCUs. "These grants will help ensure these colleges continue to educate many of the nation's African-American physicians, lawyers and business leaders while also being able to revitalize the communities that surround them."

The HBCU program funds grantees to carry out projects designed primarily to benefit low- and moderate-income residents, help prevent or eliminate slums or blight, or meet urgent community development needs in their localities. The grants can be used for activities such as: acquiring real estate; demolition; homeownership assistance to low- and moderate-income persons; special economic development activities; and rehabilitation of residential, commercial or industrial buildings to correct code violations.

The schools receiving grants are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia

The HBCU Program is one of several initiatives administered by HUD's Office of University Partnerships (OUP). Established in 1994, OUP is a catalyst for partnering colleges and universities with their communities in a shared search for answers to pressing urban problems.

The $10.7 million in grants were awarded in a competitive process, with 59 applicants vying for funding. Grant recipients are:

Get additional information about HUD's Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program on HUD's web site. A list of project descriptions for each of the grants awarded today is available on HUD's web site.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet.

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