Regional Administrator Rick Garcia addresses the audience at the Neighborhood Stabilization Plan (NSP) / Project Rebuild press conference as Gordon Walker, Kelly Jorgensen and Luke Garrott look on.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011, was a sunny, cold morning. The audience gathered to hear U.S. Housing and Urban Development Regional Administrator Rick M. Garcia speak did not seem to mind. He was in the heart of Salt Lake's Central Business District holding a press conference at the site of "The Plaza on State Street". The project is being developed by Ben Logue of the La Porte Group. It will provide 180 units of mixed income housing as well as over 25,000 square feet of retail and office space.

The project is estimated to create 250 construction jobs as well as 250 permanent positions upon completion. "For Salt Lake, having a project that brings together a mix of households of different incomes, with space designed to offer employment and retail opportunities, demonstrates how this city continues to make it an open, accessible and welcoming place for everyone," said Mr. Garcia. He went on to say "Supporting this type of diversity in development will truly make Salt Lake a more sustainable community for current and future citizens."

Gordon Walker, State of Utah Director of the Division of Housing and Community Development, commended all the parties involved. He stated that "gathering the necessary funding for a large complex project like the ‘The Plaza at State Street' is very challenging. It takes partnerships to make such projects possible." He went on to thank HUD for their financial support. he spoke about the importance of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funding to the Plaza project. Ben Logue agreed "this project would not have happened if NSP funds were not available."

Field Office Director Kelly Jorgensen explains the importance of the NSP program and Job Creation.

Other speakers at the press conference included Grant Whitaker, President and CEO, Utah Housing Corporation and Salt Lake City District 4 Councilman Luke Garrott, Chair of Salt Lake City's Redevelopment Agency. Also in attendance were community stakeholders, congressional office representatives, various city, state, and Federal staff members, and members of the general public.

After the press event, HUD staff participated in an open house at Cragun Estates, located in West Valley City. West Valley City Mayor Michael Winder welcomed the group of participants. That included staff members of West Valley City, state offices, and HUD Field Office Director Kelly Jorgensen and his staff.

Gordon Walker addressed the group who gathered to tour the subdivision. He explained how NSP funds were used in the project. The Utah Center for Affordable Housing allocated NSP funds to the Utah Housing Corporation (UHC) which used the money to purchase the lots.

Field Office Director Kelly Jorgensen, Mayor Winder, Gordon Walker, and construction supervisor.

UHC then worked with the Granite School District on this construction training opportunity for the students enrolled in the Granite School District's Technical Institute program. Students constructed one house which was then sold to a family making less than 80% of the area's median income last year. Students are now constructing a second house that will be sold upon completion to a family earning below the area median income. It is truly a win-win situation for all involved.

While at the site, the group visited with students who were working on the home. The education and practical construction skill the high school students receive from this project is both intrinsic (getting the satisfaction of seeing their hard work completed and sold) and extrinsic (receiving concurrent credit at Salt Lake Community College). Along with college credit, the students also become state-certified in a construction trade, allowing them to gain a competitive advantage in their field when they graduate and enter the work force.

Contact HUD's Salt Lake City Field Office.