PRESS RELEASE Contact: Kathy Beisner at (302) 697-4333

Camden, DE – September 21, 2001, Rural Development, an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, offers several housing programs for individuals and families in rural areas who may not qualify for a home through conventional methods. In addition to single family homes, through Rural Development’s Rural Housing Service, the agency administers a national loan portfolio of more than 18,000 rural rental housing complexes. In partnership with private-sector and non-profit borrowers, the housing complexes offer lower income families, persons who are elderly, individuals who are disabled, and farm workers a place to live.

This week USDA Rural Development recognized four multi-family housing site managers in Delaware and Maryland for their work in guaranteeing the success of these housing complexes. "These individuals make sure that day-to-day operations go smoothly, and they often invest a great deal of their own free time in providing tenants with a safe and cohesive community," said Marlene Elliott, USDA Rural Development State Director for Delaware and Maryland. "Their work is a compliment not only to USDA Rural Development, but also to the communities where these housing complexes are located." There are a total of 217 multi-family housing properties financed by Rural Development located in Delaware and Maryland. The recipients of this year’s award went to:

Jeanne M. Santiago, manager of Frazer Place Apartments, in Smyrna, DE.

Wendy Young-Dyott, manager of St. Mark’s Village in Easton, MD.

Patricia A. Short, manager of Dunbarton Oaks Apartments in Georgetown, DE.

Pam Weidner, manager of The Point at Smithsburg in Smithsburg, MD.

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Nominees for this year’s award were evaluated on tenant satisfaction, accurate and complete record-keeping, continual upkeep of the property, and "going above and beyond" for the property and the tenants.

In addition to the USDA recognition, the site managers were also recognized by their respective management companies and the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, and State Senator Richard Colburn.

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