SECRETARY MARTINEZ PARTICIPATES IN GROUNDBREAKING FOR MUNCIE HOPE VI PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
$12 Million HUD Grant to Transform Public Housing, Help Residents

MUNCIE, Ind. - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez joined Congressman Mike Pence and Muncie Mayor Dan Canan for a groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Millennium Place mixed-income community.

Millennium Place will include the revitalization of the Muncyana Homes public housing development by using a $12 million HUD HOPE VI Revitalization grant along with private and other public funding. The HUD funding awarded to the Muncie Housing Authority (MHA) earlier this month will be used to continue MHA revitalization efforts at Millennium Place.

"Revitalizing distressed communities continues to be a priority of this administration," said Martinez, who also toured the site where the new housing will be built. "Muncie is one of the 28 cities that has received funding this year to revitalize neighborhoods and improve lives."

"This is an enormous accomplishment for Muncie, Mayor Canan and every city official who has worked so tirelessly to make the vision of downtown revitalization a reality," said Pence.

The MHA will use the HUD funding to replace the aging public housing with 62 new public housing units. Millennium Place will also include 138 rental units and 44 homes for sale.

Muncie was selected from a pool of 58 applications HUD received for the 2002 funding. Cities were competitively selected with an emphasis on the effectiveness and project readiness of their public housing revitalization plans. HUD policy provides local housing authorities the flexibility to develop revitalization plans that meet their own special needs.

As part of today's award, HUD will pay relocation costs for residents being displaced by the revitalization effort. Relocated residents who meet program requirements will be given the opportunity to move back to the newly constructed units at the site. Alternatively, if residents choose not to return to public housing, they will be given vouchers to subsidize their rents in privately owned apartments. In addition, relocated residents receiving vouchers will be provided with the same job training and services offered to people living in the revitalized development.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet.

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