For Immediate Release:

BREMERTON & KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITIES WIN $400,000 IN HUD GRANTS TO “CYBER-CONNECT” PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS

THEY ARE AMONG 40 HOUSING AUTHORITIES NATIONWIDE TO WIN $10.6 MILLION TO ESTABLISH HUD NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK CENTERS

SEATTLE - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today competitively awarded $10.6 million in grants to 40 public housing authorities in 24 states – including the Bremerton and King County housing authorities in Washington - to provide greater access to computers and the Internet for thousands of public housing residents.

The Bremerton housing authority will use its $150,000 Neighborhood Network grant to establish a computer learning center at the 571-unit West Park public housing complex that currently is undergoing a revitalization.

"Having access to a computer and the Internet has become an essential part of our lives," said HUD Secretary Steven Preston. "Whether it's researching homework assignments or polishing a resume, this funding will help open doors to families who don't have access to a computer and build the skills needed in today's job market."

The funding comes from HUD's Public Housing Neighborhood Network Program , which gives housing authorities across the U.S. the resources to create, expand or update community technology centers. The centers must be located at or near a public housing site. These centers provide access to computers, computer training and the Internet for families who live in public housing; participants in HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8); and residents of the surrounding community.

Neighborhood Network grants help the young and the old alike to become computer savvy. They give parents and children greater access to resources found on the Internet - everything from employment information to homework help. The centers generally provide a range of services to help residents achieve long-term economic self-sufficiency, including classes in computer literacy, financial planning and job training. Housing authorities also use the funding to hire staff to manage center activities or purchase equipment for the center.

2008 Public Housing Neighborhood Network Grants

CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT FLORIDA GEORGIA ILLINOIS KENTUCKY MARYLAND MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSOURI MONTANA NORTH CAROLINA	San Diego Housing Commission State Total: Housing Authority of the City of Pueblo State Total: Housing Authority of the City of Meriden State Total: Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers State Total: Carrollton Housing Authority Gainesville Housing Authority State Total: Housing Authority of the City of Rock Island Knox County Housing Authority Rockford Housing Authority State Total: Campbellsville Housing & Redevelopment Authority Housing Authority of Madisonville Lebanon Housing Authority Louisville Metro Housing Authority State Total: Housing Authority of Baltimore City Housing Authority of the City of Frederick Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County MD State Total: Port Huron Housing Commission State Total: Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul State Total: Housing Authority of St. Louis County State Total: Public Housing Authority of Butte State Total: Housing of the City of Durham State Total	$300,000 $300,000 $400,000 $400,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $300,000 $450,000 $150,000 $300,000 $400,000 $850,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $250,000 $700,000 $599,592 $150,000 $400,000 $1,149,592 $300,000 $300,000 $250,000 $250,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $400,000 $400,000

NEW YORK OHIO PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND TENNESSEE TEXAS VIRGINIA VERMONT WASHINGTON WISCONSIN	Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Schenectady New York City Housing Authority Syracuse Housing Authority State Total: Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority Springfield Metropolitan Housing Authority State Total: Chester Housing Authority State Total: Housing Authority of the City of Providence State Total: Chattanooga Housing Authority Memphis Housing Authority State Total: Housing Authority of the City of Temple Houston Housing Authority State Total: Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority State Total: Burlington Housing Authority State Total: Housing Authority of the City of Bremerton King County Housing Authority State Total: Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee State Total: Grand Total:	$250,000 $200,000 $600,000 $200,000 $1,250,000 $300,000 $300,000 $600,000 $400,000 $400,000 $250,000 $250,000 $400,000 $250,000 $650,000 $150,000 $250,000 $400,000 $300,000 $300,000 $148,669 $148,669 $150,000 $250,000 $400,000 $250,000 $250,000 $10,598,261

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov .