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NEWS RELEASE 1303
SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka,
KS 66604-4040 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 20, 2004
Contact - Harold Alford (785) 271-2701
USDA
Rural Development Funded Housing
Project Dedicated In Junction City
Junction City, KS. – USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks joined five families who have just completed building their homes in dedication ceremonies by participating in the Agency’s Mutual Self-Help Housing Program. Also present for the ceremony were officials from Self-Help Housing of Junction City, USDA Rural Development’s technical assistance partner for the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program in Junction City. The ceremony also included the ground breaking for the first set of 18 new homes planned to be constructed under a new technical assistance grant in the amount of $270,000.
During the ceremonies, State Director Banks commented, “USDA Rural Development has a long history of providing funding assistance to improve housing opportunities in rural Kansas. President Bush has stressed the goal of expanding homeownership in our Nation, and the important link it represents to economic prosperity. USDA Rural Development continues to provide funding and technical assistance support for achieving this goal through the Agency’s Mutual Self-Help Housing Program and Single-Family Housing Loan Program.”
U.S. Congressman Jerry Moran sent a message to the group saying, “This team effort gives each of us reason to be optimistic about the future of housing in Kansas. It also demonstrates what is possible when interested citizens and government officials work together to accomplish a worthy goal.”
State Director Banks also commented during today’s ceremony, “To date, through the partnership with Self-Help Housing of Junction City, USDA Rural Development’s Mutual Self-Help Housing Program had resulted in seventeen families constructing their own home in Junction City. Six more families have recently begun constructing their homes. USDA Rural Development has invested over $1.1 million in taxpayer supported loans to support this important home-building effort in Geary County alone.”
As a condition of the Program, future homeowners are required to personally supply 65% of the labor to construct their house. Statewide, with the assistance of four non-profit housing partners, USDA Rural Development’s Mutual Self-Help Housing Program has resulted in the construction of over 125 new single-family homes.
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs that support increasing economic opportunities and enhancing the quality of life of rural Americans. As a venture capital entity, USDA Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure in rural America. For additional information, you may log onto the state's Rural Development website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks/
USDA Rural Development – Committed to the future of rural communities.
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