News Release

BUSH ADMINISTRATION AWARDS 14 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OVER $8.4 MILLION IN GRANTS
Since 1991, HUD has provided $67 million to HBCUs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson today announced 14 historically Black colleges and universities would receive $8.4 million to help revitalize neighborhoods near their campuses. The HBCU grants, administered by HUD's Office of University Partnerships, range from $584,600 to $600,000.

"HBCUs are the training ground of our future leaders. They are outstanding centers of learning and culture. They are unifying communities of learning in our communities and states throughout the nation. Using this funding, HBCUs will continue to promote economic and community development activities to benefit many benefit low-and-moderate income residents around the college," said Jackson, who made the grant announcement at the White House's 2007 National HBCU Week Conference.

HUD's HBCU program funds grantees to carry out projects designed primarily to benefit low- and moderate-income residents by helping 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.

Since 1991, HUD has awarded more than $67 million to HBCUs to stimulate economic and community development activities.

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. More information about OUP and its programs is available on the Internet at www.oup.org.

NOTE: To read the Prepared Remarks for Secretary Jackson, visit www.hud.gov/news/speeches/2007-09-11.cfm

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development, and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. For more information about FHA products, please visit www.fha.gov.