USDA [U.S. Department of Agriculture]

10/18/00 06 PROGRAM DEVELUPEMENT DIVISON 202 456 7431 NU. 191 P002/003 Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Grantees USDA Page 1 of 2 file USDA NEWS RELEAS United States Department of Agriculture Office of Communications Washington, DC 20250-1300 1400 Independenc Voloe: (202) 720-4623 Email: [email protected] Wet Release No. 0355.00 Contact: Steve Thompsom (202) 720-2446 [email protected] GLICKMAN AWARDS $6 MILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS WASHINGTON, October. 11, 2000 - Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced $6 million in grants to encourage housing, community facilities and economic development in low- income rural communities. "These grants will help rural communities help themselves," said Glickman. "They will help provide the training and technical assistance essential to improving rural economies." USDA's Rural Community Development Initiative provides funds to help private, nonprofit, community-based development organizations and low-income communities improve their ability to develop rural housing and community facilities and to improve economic growth. Recipients were required to obtain matching funds, doubling the value of the USDA grants. Grant recipients will provide training and technical assistance to eligible nonprofit community- development organizations and low-income communities located in rural areas with populations of 50,000 or less. Technical assistance includes: setting up homeownership education programs; supporting micro-enterprises, cooperatives and sustainable development; and providing training to develop strategic plans, hire staff and oversee board operations and management. A list of grantees follows. The Development Training Institute $ 331,337 Baltimore, Maryland Lightstone Community Development 440,244 Moyers, West Virginia Corp. Tanana Chiefs Conference, Inc. 67,000 Fairbanks, Alaska Local Initiatives Support Corporation 429,065 New York, New York (LISC) Housing Assistance Council (HAC) 633,300 Washington, DC Rural Development & Finance 750.000 San Antonio, Texas Corporation http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2000/10/0355.htm 10/17/00