NEWS RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C.

Contact: Darin Leach (202) 690-0498

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT SELECTS 2005 NATIONAL SITE MANAGERS OF THE YEAR

     WASHINGTON, May 19, 2006--Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr today announced the selection of three National Multi-Family Housing Site Managers of the Year for 2005.

     "Apartment managers play a vital role in maintaining the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of rural Americans by ensuring properties are safe, well maintained and meet the needs of rural residents," said Dorr. "Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, we have invested $12 billion to provide multi-family housing opportunities for more than half a million rural residents."

     The three winners, selected from 37 nominations representing 20 states, are being recognized based upon tenant satisfaction with their manager, curb appeal of the manager's apartment complex, accurate and complete record keeping, and actions of the manager that consistently go above and beyond what is required of the job.

     One Site Manager of the Year award is presented in each of three categories: elderly, family, and farm labor housing. The first two categories are for managers of Section 515 Rural Rental Housing. The third category is for Section 514/516 Farm Labor Housing, which provides housing for farm laborers.

     Following are the winners:

Elderly Site Manager of the Year -
Ellen Slowey, Sunrise Apartments
Yankton, South Dakota

Family Site Manager of the Year -
Roxanne Garcia, Oakcrest Apartments
Countryside Villas, Dade City, Florida

Farm Labor Housing Site Manager of the Year -
Larry Butler, Chula Vista Acres
Wilder, Idaho

     A panel consisting of housing professionals from Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Housing Assistance Council, National Affordable Housing Management Association, and a representative from Rural Development made the selections. The Civil Rights Staff reviewed the nominees for any complaints or compliance issues.

     Awards will be presented at a breakfast hosted by CARH on the last day of their annual meeting. This meeting will take place on June 13, 2006, at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Alexandria, Virginia.

     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 has invested more than $63 billion since the beginning of the Bush Administration to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. As a result, more than 1.1 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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

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