Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office Receives National Award

The City of Austin's Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office has been honored as one of five winners of the 2004 John A. Sasso National Community Development Award.

The John A. Sasso National Community Development Award recognizes those communities that exemplify the spirit of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program by showcasing its works through the activities and events that comprise the National Community Development Week Campaign. To be eligible for the award, applicants must provide empirical evidence that highlight the City's dedication to positively affecting the lives of its lower income residents.

"The City of Austin exemplifies all that National Community Development Week stands for. It encourages the participation of the entire community, from the city and its staff, its non-profit community, its local and nationally elected official, as well as its financial and business partners. It is also apparent that the City of Austin has established many avenues of getting information and services to its citizens. Its use of information technology is a wonderful way of encouraging participation, especially from its younger residents. And, as always, encouraging neighborhood groups to take part in the needs assessment during the preparation of the Consolidated Plan is really what community development is all about," said, Chandra Western, Executive Director for the National Community Development Association.

In an effort to educate the public, media, federal, state and locally elected officials of the importance of CDBG funds, the City of Austin's Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office hosted numerous events during the month of April. These included: The Austin City Council proclaiming April as CDBG Month in Austin, conducting a Food Drive, promoting the Upcoming NeighborFEST, hosting a CDBG Reception, distributing information about the programs that CDBG funds in our community, hosting a grand opening of Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, participating in a Fair Housing Forum and conducting public hearings for the City-s use of CDBG funds in its 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan.

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call 974-3100 (voice) or 974-3102 (TDD) for assistance. This project is made possible by funding from HUD through the City of Austin.

CONTACT: Julie Beggs, (512) 974-3121 (voice)