NEWS RELEASE USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT PUERTO RICO

Media Contact: Miguel Ramírez
Phone: 787-859-2880 ext. 118
E-Mail: miguel.ramirez@pr.usda.gov

GILBERT GONZALEZ, USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTING UNDER SECRETARY, VISITS PUERTO RICO

     San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 17, 2005--Gilbert Gonzalez, Acting Under Secretary for USDA Rural Development, visited Puerto Rico during the first week of May 2005. His visit was covered by the major media in Puerto Rico.

     His first visit was to a Self-Help Housing project in Toitía Ward in the municipality of Cidra. The project consists of 20 houses of three and four bedrooms. There are six houses already finished and the remaining are under construction at the moment.

     He also visited a Rural Rental Housing project under construction that consists of 19 apartments in the municipality of Florida. Five percent (5%) of the units are for persons with handicaps. All the units have the following facilities: living - dinning room, kitchen, laundry room, bathroom and a choice of two or three bedrooms.

     His last visit was to CANII a rehabilitation center in the municipality of Isabela. In 2002 this center received a loan of $2,566,000 and a grant of $50,000 from our Agency. The primary purpose of the center is to offer the best quality rehabilitation service for infants, children, adolescents and adults with physical limitations.

     CANII is equipped with four Hyperbaric Chambers that provide oxygen therapy for handicapped children as well as adults. The $200,000 chamber unit is used for multiple group treatment and the $30,000 units are used for individual treatment. This center is using the latest technology in water treatment, speech therapy language, and music for brain treatment.

     José A. Otero-García, State Director for Puerto Rico, accompanied the Under Secretary in his visit to the island.

     USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development and critical community and technology infrastructure.

     Additional information on USDA Rural Development Programs can be obtained by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov or by calling Miguel A. Ramírez at (787) 859-3104 ext. 118. USDA Rural Development is committed to the future of rural communities.

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discrimination should be sent to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

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