The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded more than $61 million in grants during fiscal year 2010 to tribal communities in 20 states to improve or create housing or economic development opportunities for low- to moderate-income families. The grants awarded are provided through HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant Program, which is designed to support a wide variety of community-development and affordable-housing activities.    

According to HUD, the recipients will use the funding to develop viable communities, including rehabilitating housing or building new housing or buying land to support new housing construction. The funding can also be used to build infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer facilities, in order to create suitable living environments. To spur economic development, recipients use the grants to establish a wide variety of commercial, industrial and agricultural projects. Recipients have used the funding to build community and health centers, or to start businesses to support the community, such as shopping centers, manufacturing plants, restaurants or convenient stores/gas stations.

"This funding helps our country’s Native American and Alaska Native communities improve the living conditions for hard-working families who need the most help," says HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "This is an investment to promote neighborhood development, produce affordable housing, and help create much-needed jobs."

SOURCE: HUD