Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed news that Rural Opportunities, Inc. (ROI), a member of the National NeighborWorks network, has been awarded a $125,000 grant from NeighborWorks America. This funding will provide valuable support for ROI’s community development and affordable housing projects.

“Creating economic development and home ownership opportunities for working families is extremely important to the growth and vitality of New York’s rural communities,” said Senator Clinton. “Rural Opportunities has already helped so many people in the Greater Rochester region and beyond. This grant will help Rural Opportunities, Inc. to continue their important work of helping farmers and rural communities throughout the State.”

Founded in 1969, ROI is a private, not-for-profit regional community development and human service organization. ROI provides services to farmworkers, low-income families and economically depressed communities throughout New York.

The NeighborWorks organizations in New York will receive a total of $5.3 million in grants this year. Working together, NeighborWorks America and NeighborWorks organizations throughout New York will be responsible for leveraging $166 million reinvested in the community to create more economic development and affordable housing opportunities for New York citizens. In 2007, NeighborWorks America will provide over $75 million in grants to its national network of 238 community-based nonprofit organizations to create homeownership for lower-income families, produce and manage affordable, high-quality rental properties, stem the tide of foreclosures that threaten neighborhoods and local economies, and revitalize and strengthen communities.

NeighborWorks America is a national nonprofit organization created by Congress to provide financial support, technical assistance, and training for community-based revitalization efforts.

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