PRESS RELEASE

United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development
1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040
VOICE (785) 271-2700, FAX (785) 271-2708, TTY (785) 271-2767, WEB www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks

For Immediate Release

Contact- Harold Alford (785) 271-2702

Congressman Jerry Moran Reviews Kansas Rural Development Projects In Barton County

October 31, 2002 - Great Bend, KS. – 1st District Congressman Jerry Moran joined Kansas Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks to review a USDA housing project located in Great Bend and announce a long-distance learning grant for Barton County Community College.

Ground was broken for six single-family residences, which will be constructed in Great Bend under Rural Development’s Mutual Self-Help Housing program. As a condition of the program, the homeowners are required to personally supply 65% of the labor to construction their house. Housing Opportunities, Inc., a non-profit agency in Great Bend, is administering the program for Rural Development. Sixteen homes have already been built at this location.

Congressman Moran then joined Rural Development in delivering a grant totaling $69,550 to Barton County Community College for the development of an interactive television system. The system will be connected to several rural high schools to provide advanced courses that are not currently available at those locations.

"I am very supportive of Kansas Rural Development and the Agency’s efforts to improve the quality of life in our rural communities. Today’s housing groundbreaking and grant announcement also plays a key role in providing economic development opportunities in our State," stated Congressman Moran.

State Director Banks commented, "Our Agency has a long history of providing assistance to improve housing opportunities in Kansas. President Bush has commented that home ownership is a critical component to our nation’s economic prosperity. Additionally, the 2002 Farm Bill contains excellent economic development provisions for Kansas. Creating added commerce and jobs in our rural communities is key to the prosperity of the entire State".

USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal agency for rural development needs and administers financial and technical assistance through three agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service. For additional information, you may log onto the Kansas Rural Development website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks, or e-mail the Agency at 2002farmbillRD@ks.usda.gov