Udall Congratulates the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency on Receiving Housing Preservation Grant
Mark Udall congratulated the Colorado Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) today on securing a $50,000 competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to repair and rehabilitate 50 low-income, owner-occupied homes in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan counties. The competitive grant is provided through USDA's Rural Development's Housing Preservation Grant program.
"I am pleased that 4CORE will be able to use these competitive grant funds to continue its work to improve housing conditions for rural Coloradans that might need a helping hand in meeting their housing needs," Udall said. "Making our homes more energy efficient not only helps families lower their monthly bills, but also helps strengthen our nation's energy security. This grant - an investment in Colorado’s rural communities - strengthens rural Colorado, a critical part of our state’s economy."
"We are excited to bring this additional funding opportunity to our five-county region so we can assist low-income families with health and safety re-hab issues in their homes. This funding will complement the Weatherization Assistance efforts currently underway," said Gregg Dubit, Executive Director of 4CORE. "Now we can better address energy efficiency, as well as healthy and safety rehab in low-income housing. It is important for our community to recognize that many of the people served by these programs work full-time, but still qualify as low-income."
The competitive grant can be used to make general repairs, which include installing or improving plumbing, heating, indoor air quality, and providing or enhancing access to people with disabilities. 4CORE will continue to implement these regional services with collaborative partner agencies: Housing Solutions for the Southwest and the Southwest Conservation Corps operating with AmeriCorps interns.
To learn more about this USDA grant program, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html.