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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:** March 5, 2002 Pam
Reilly - (605) 352-1132 or

Patrick Gross - (605) 624-7060 or

\(605\) 352-1100

**[RURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERS \$114 MILLION TO BUILD AND REPAIR RURAL
RENTAL HOUSING]{.underline}**

Huron - The United States Department of Agriculture will allocate \$114
million during the year 2002 to help build affordable housing in rural
areas, including South Dakota, according to Rural Development State
Director Lynn D. Jensen. The money, available as low interest loans from
USDA, will be awarded based on a competitive application process. Jensen
also announced that additional funds will be available for rental
assistance to make housing affordable to low-income South Dakotans.

In South Dakota, thirty-one (31) communities are eligible for new rental
housing projects. Those communities which are eligible include: Waubay,
Spearfish, Brookings, Lennox, Pine Ridge, Garretson, Yankton, Custer,
Dell Rapids, Box Elder, Brandon, Bowdle, Valley Springs, Martin, Miller,
Hartford, Colton, Volga, Marion, Philip, Salem, Plankinton, Onida, Black
Hawk, Tea, Centerville, Ellsworth AFB, DeSmet, Eureka, Tripp, and Rapid
Valley.

Additionally, all communities on South Dakota Indian Reservations,
except Standing Rock, which is served by Rural Development in North
Dakota, are eligible for rental housing projects.

A portion of the new funds will be used for repair and rehabilitation
loans on existing projects. In South Dakota there are approximately 520
existing projects which are eligible.

Application deadline for funding is April 26, 2002. Applications are
available at all ten South Dakota Rural Development offices, located on
Rural Development's South Dakota Home Page at:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/sd/index.htm. Program criteria and
application process information can be obtained by accessing Rural
Development's National Office Home Page at:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs. Interested parties may also call the
Rural Housing Service of USDA Rural Development in Huron at (605)
352-1132.

Jensen said applicants are strongly encouraged to contact USDA Rural
Development as soon as possible for assistance with applications.

USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal entity for rural
development needs, and administers program assistance through three
agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and
Rural Utilities Service. Further information on USDA Rural Development
programs can be obtained by visiting USDA\'s web site at
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

**-USDA-**

*The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race,
color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political
beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means for communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of
discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room
326-W, Whitten Building, 14^th^ and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal
opportunity employer.*