WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it is launching a Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. pilot program in Miami that will expand job opportunities for low-income people and public housing residents by maintaining a registry of businesses that currently hire them. Additionally, HUD will implement the pilot program in New Orleans, Detroit, Los Angeles and Washington, DC, to give contracting agencies and low-income residents a single source of information to find eligible Section 3 businesses and job opportunities.

Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 promotes employment, training, and contracting opportunities to low-income residents who live in communities where HUD funds are spent. As a result, Section 3 promotes self-sufficiency for low-income persons, fosters the creation of small businesses, and helps build strong local economies. Based on the data received so far, 2010 HUD investments led to 38,000 new jobs- of which 47% were Section 3 hires. Almost 4,000 Section 3 business concerns received over $475 million in contracts. These numbers will increase as reporting continues.

Under the pilot, HUD's Section 3 Business Registry will offer a searchable online database that housing authorities, local government agencies, and contractors can use to identify firms that have self-certified their status as Section 3 businesses and that hire low-income individuals.

"This business registry is one of the key connecting points between jobs and housing," said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "For businesses, there is an incentive to self-certify as a Section 3 business because contracts go to the companies that hire low-income and public housing residents. It's a win-win situation for businesses and the residents in the community."

Since 2009, HUD has increased Section 3 reporting from 20% to 80% of eligible HUD recipients. HUD has supported recipients by providing technical assistance and training in Section 3 compliance and conducted a listening session of stakeholders from various sectors to hear ideas for improvement. Recent HUD funding enabled 12 local recipients (public housing authorities, states, counties, and cities) to hire full-time Section 3 coordinators.

The Section 3 Business Registry's online database is also intended to make compliance easier for recipients. It will increase the visibility of Section 3 firms and afford them better access to contracting opportunities. In addition, Section 3 residents will be encouraged to use the Section 3 Business Registry to identify businesses that may have employment opportunities they can apply for.

The Section 3 business registry pilot program will run until the fall of 2012. For more information about or to search HUD's new Section 3 Business Registry, go to www.hud.gov/Sec3biz.

###

HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews or on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD.