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In honor of National Homeownership Month, Rural Development and CAP Services, Inc. held an awards ceremony and tour yesterday to highlight the accomplishments of Wautoma resident and new homeowner, Connie Flores. Also honored were the City of Wautoma and the many partners who worked together to help Ms. Flores realize her dream.
Rural Development Acting Under Secretary Gilbert Gonzalez presented the City of Wautoma the first annual USDA Rural Development 'State Director Award', recognizing the determination and commitment to improving the quality of life for the residents of Wautoma and surrounding communities.
Connie Flores is a single mother of two who immigrated to Wisconsin from Mexico fifteen years ago to escape domestic abuse. Since her arrival, Connie has always wanted to give her children a place they could be proud to call home. Through the combined effort of many people, including Rural Development, CAP Services, Coldwell Banker Realty and the Bancroft State bank, that dream has become a reality. The home was built through CAP Services' Fresh Start Program, a youth intervention initiative where participants build new homes that will be sold to low income families. USDA Rural Development awarded Connie Flores a 502 direct home loan in 2003 for the purchase of her new home.
In Wisconsin alone during Fiscal Year 2003, Rural Development obligated $127 million through its Rural Housing Guaranteed and Direct Programs that assisted 1,602 families throughout the state purchase a home of their own. According to recently released Census figures, the rate of homeownership in the U.S. continues at record levels in our cities and in the country, among all races and ethnic groups, for all age categories and among all levels of income. The success is even greater in rural areas, though the rural poverty rates far exceed that in metropolitan centers. At the end of 2003, a total of 75.6 percent of rural Americans owned their homes. In fact, the homeownership rate outside metropolitan areas has exceeded 70 percent for more than 37 years.
Pictured, above: (L) Karl Pnazek, CEO and President of CAP Services, holding tree. Rural Development Acting Under Gilbert Gonzalez; USDA Rural Development Wisconsin State Director, Frank Frassetto; Coldwell Banker Realtor, Linda Freudenthal; and USDA Rural Development Stevens Point Loan Specialist Cindy Weyenberg finish planting the first tree in the Flores' new backyard. (R) Rural Development Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development Gilbert Gonzalez presents Judy Downie, Representative of the Wautoma Chamber of Commerce and
Visitors Bureau, with the 2004 State Director's Award to the City of Wautoma in recognition of their determination and commitment to
improving the quality of life for the residents of Wautoma and surrounding communities.
Homeownership Month 2004 Home Page
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