HUD AWARDS $6.87 MILLION TO 20 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO REVITALIZE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez today announced $6.87 million in grants to 20 colleges and universities to help harness their physical and economic resources -- and the knowledge, creativity and energy of faculty and students -- to create stronger, healthier neighborhoods near their campuses.

The recipients of the Community Outreach Partnership Centers (COPC) grants are in: Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington.

"The recipients of these grants are key members of their communities, and this support will further enable them to support innovative community partnerships that strengthen the economic and social infrastructure of nearby distressed neighborhoods," Martinez said.

The program is designed to help 2- and 4-year colleges and universities develop and sustain effective community partnerships. Administered by HUD's Office of University Partnerships in the Office of Policy Development and Research, COPC is a peer-reviewed, competitive program that provides 3-year grants of up to $400,000 to help universities, colleges, community colleges, and technical institutes play an active and visible role in community revitalization.

The funding helps colleges and universities to provide technical assistance, training and applied research to community-based groups and local governments. The funded activities are selected and designed jointly by the schools and neighborhood groups. Through these projects, students learn about local neighborhoods and neighborhood residents gain access to the knowledge and resources of the higher education institutions.

For the grants awarded today, $3.98 million in New Grants will go to nine institutions just starting their activities. Six previous COPC winners will receive some $900,000 in New Directions Grants to undertake new activities or work in new neighborhoods. The remaining $1.98 million in funding will go to five institutions as Futures Demonstration Grants.

A total of 175 applications for COPC funding were received this year. President Bush has proposed $8 million in funding for the grants in his fiscal year 2004 budget.

The grants will go to:

Schools were selected for the grants based on: extent of community need; quality of activities described; level of neighborhood and local government participation; the funds each school expected to contribute or raise from other sources; and commitment to the program.

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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Note to editors: Individual project summaries are available on the Internet

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