PRess release
USDA 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 – april 9, 2003

Contact- Harold Alford  (785) 271-2701

Ground Broken On USDA Rural Development Housing Project In Larned

Larned, KS. – USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks joined future homeowners and Larned community leaders in breaking ground for three new houses to be built in this Pawnee County community.  Housing Opportunities, Inc., a non-profit agency located in Great Bend, is administering this project through Rural Development’s Mutual Self-Help Housing program.

During groundbreaking ceremonies, State Director Banks commented, “USDA Rural Development has a long history of providing assistance to improve housing opportunities in Kansas.  President Bush has stressed the critical need of expanding homeownership in our nation, and the important link it represents to our nation’s economic prosperity.  President Bush has also indicated his support of USDA Rural Development’s Self-Help Housing program”.

As a condition of the program, the future homeowners are required to personally supply 65% of the labor to construct their house.  Housing Opportunities, Inc., in partnership with USDA Rural Development has already overseen the construction of 16 single-family homes in Great Bend.

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 state's Rural Development website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks, or e-mail the Agency at 2002farmbillRD@ks.usda.gov

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