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# Release No. 0176.03

# Tim McNeilly (202) 720-1019

**DORR HAILS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COLONIAS ALONG
THE US BORDER**

***Presents \$1 Million in Checks For Information Technology
Development***

ANTHONY, N.M., May 30, 2003 - Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural
Development Thomas C. Dorr joined Congressman Stevan Pearce and state
and local housing officials at the home of the Luis Garcia family to
welcome the family and present keys to their new home financed by USDA
Rural Development.

"Today, we celebrate with the Garcia family the fulfillment of their
dream to be homeowners," said Dorr. "Home is where the Garcia family can
grow, build equity and instill strong family values for generations to
come. It offers an opportunity for an improved quality of life and is an
investment in their future."

Officials visited the southern New Mexico community to highlight the
importance of working together to help more New Mexico families realize
the dream of homeownership and to support safe, affordable housing in
communities known as Colonias which are located along the U.S.-Mexico
border. Utilizing USDA Rural Development's self-help housing program,
the Garcia family worked along with other families in the community to
build their own home. The self-help program allows families to learn
additional job skills and build equity up front.

Dorr said that the Bush administration is working to provide better
housing opportunities to minorities and lower income families through
initiatives and programs within USDA Rural Development and the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). President Bush has
set a national goal of increasing the number of minority homeowners by
at least 5.5 million by the end of this decade.

The New Mexico Homeownership Partnership includes: The Enterprise
Foundation; Fannie Mae; the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA)
and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Garcia family will immediately move into their new home that they
acquired through USDA Rural Development's Self Help program. This
innovative program allows low-income families to wave a portion of the
cost of the construction of the house when they help build the home.

During the visit to New Mexico Dorr also presented \$1 million in
ceremonial checks to leaders of the Ramah Band of Navajos Reservation
and the town of Mountainair.

-more-

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The Ramah Band of Navajos will use \$607,600 in grant funds to make
accessible broadband connectivity to residents of the reservation via
microwave technology. The town of Mountainair will use \$444,488 in
grant funds to provide high-speed wireless Internet technology to
community organizations such as the police department, volunteer fire
and rescuer department, senior center, public library, medial clinic and
the elementary and high schools. USDA announced on May 16, 2003, over
\$20 million in broadband grants including \$1.7 million in New Mexico.

USDA Rural Development\'s mission is to deliver programs in a way that
will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of
life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development
provides equity, liquidity, and technical assistance to finance and
foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical
community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural
programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by
visiting USDA\'s web site at <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/>.

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