TOPEKA, Kansas, August 24, 2006--USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas C. Dorr joined the Agency’s State Director Chuck Banks today for a visit of Let’s Help, Inc. of Topeka and its officials. The purpose of the tour and meeting was to view the operations of Let’s Help and to discuss the recently announced partnership between USDA Rural Development and Let’s Help, an effort to help provide more affordable housing and community development program information to Kansans.

     Under Secretary Dorr, commenting on today’s tour, remarked, "I am very impressed with Let’s Help. This innovative partnership between USDA Rural Development and Let’s Help will provide communities better access to important affordable housing and other USDA-funded community development program opportunities."

     Announced early this summer, the USDA – Let’s Help partnership consists of two initiatives:

USDA / Heartland Share Initiative – Let’s Help, working through its Heartland SHARE network, will help connect USDA Rural Development with the Heartland SHARE partners across rural Kansas to provide housing information (homebuyer education, homeownership financing opportunities, rural rental housing information, etc.) and community development progamming information to assist rural areas to improve local 'quality of life assets' (rural health care, essential community services, etc.)

Let’s Help / USDA Housing Fair – second annual event, inviting all housing and homeownership resources/partners to provide info to very low, low and moderate income individuals/families about housing and homeownership opportunities.

     USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks, also commenting on the new partnership, stated, "The Agency is looking forward to advancing this exciting and innovative partnership between our two organizations. The end result will be more benefits for more Kansans who are looking to improve their quality of life."