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NEWS RELEASE 1303
SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka,
KS 66604-4040 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 15, 2004
Contact - Harold Alford (785) 271-2701
Housing Preservation Grant Applications
Invited By USDA Rural Development
Topeka, KS – USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks announced today the request of applications for the Agency’s Housing Preservation Grant Program. USDA’s Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant Program provides financial assistance to sponsoring organizations to assist in the repair and/or rehabilitation of single-family and rental residences located in rural communities.
In today’s announcement, State Director Banks commented, “The availability of affordable housing in our rural areas continues to be a major factor which contributes to economic development. Many times, with certain repairs, existing rural homes can continue to be a valuable asset to Kansas families and their communities. USDA Rural Development’s Housing Preservation Grant Program can ultimately provide financial assistance to eligible owners to make necessary repairs to these homes.”
Eligible sponsors who would administer the grant funds can include state agencies, units of local government, Native American tribes, and nonprofit organizations. The Agency’s Housing Preservation Grant Program can also provide assistance to rental property owners to repair and/or rehabilitate their units providing the owners agree to make such units available to very-low and low-income families. USDA Rural Development’s Housing Preservation Grant Program provides assistance to residential projects located in communities with a maximum population of 20,000.
USDA Rural Development’s Housing Preservation Grant Program has provided nearly $3 Million in grants to Kansas to enhance the quality of life; increase accessibility and usefulness or rural homes for the frail elderly, handicapped and disabled homeowners; enhance energy efficiency; and reduce overcrowding.
Requests for the Housing Preservation Grant Program pre-application package should be sent to USDA Rural Development, 1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, Kansas 66604-4040, attention Housing Preservation Grant Coordinator. The completed pre-application must be received in the USDA Rural Development office by 5:00 p.m. on May 6, 2004. This period will be the only time during Fiscal Year 2004 the Agency will be accepting pre-applications for this program.
For additional information regarding USDA Rural Development programs, interested parties may call the Agency’s state headquarters at 785-271-2702 or log onto the state’s USDA Rural Development website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks
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