HUD & Rural Communities

With a name like Housing and Urban Development, it's easy to forget that HUD does work in rural communities as well.  They recently announced $28 million in grants for rural communities.  The Rural Innovation Fund is designed to "to address distressed housing conditions and concentrated poverty" in rural communities.

HUD awarded Rural Innovation Fund grants in three categories:

• Comprehensive Grants – 7 Comprehensive grants, in which grantees have examined the social, housing and economic needs and resources of their target areas and made proposals that address these needs through activities that will have sustained benefit and resources after HUD assistance is used. The maximum grant amount was $2,000,000 for this category.
• Single Purpose Grants – 31 Single Purpose grants, for more targeted initiatives, which typically focus primarily on either housing or economic development. The maximum award amount was $300,000 for this category.
• Economic Development and Entrepreneurship for Federally Recognized Tribes – 8 Indian Economic Development and Entrepreneurship grants, awarded from $5 million set aside for applications for federally recognized Indian tribes. The maximum award amount was $800,000 for this category.

Congratulations to two Wisconsin grantees.

Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in Hayward which received $789,063 "to enhance the tourism-based economy by creating a visitor’s center, museum, and gift shop located in former Kinnamon School, which will be renovated. The visitor’s center will promote tribal businesses and will provide a venue for the work of local crafts and tradespersons."

The Ho-Chunk Housing and Community Development Agency, in Tomah, received $300,000 for rehabbing 20 homes in Black Rivers, which includes geothermal heat-pump system and new basement insulation to increase energy efficiency by 63%.