The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced the allocation of nearly $70 million to 38 Tribal communities via the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) program, aimed at enhancing housing development on Indian reservations and in other Indian areas. This allocation represents the second tranche of grants from the fiscal year 2023 ICDBG competition, with over $50 million distributed among 27 Tribal communities across the nation. An earlier round of ICDBG awards was announced by HUD at the beginning of the month.
The announcement was made by HUD’s Regional Administrator Candance Valenzuela in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she presented $8 million to four communities in the Southwest Region.
HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge commented on the significance of the grants as part of the 50th-anniversary commemoration of the ICDBG program, emphasizing the Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication to the growth and prosperity of Tribal communities and its commitment to upholding the Federal Government’s responsibility to Tribal Nations.
The grants are designed to support American Indian and Alaskan Native families and can be utilized for various projects including infrastructure enhancement, community building, housing rehabilitation, land acquisition, economic development, among others.
Richard Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, expressed pride in the administration’s commitment to Tribal community development and admiration for the quality of projects observed in Indian Country. Despite acknowledging the ongoing need for additional funding, he noted the Tribes and Tribal Organizations’ efforts to maximize the impact of every allocated dollar for their members’ benefit.
In developing this round of the grant competition, HUD acknowledged the valuable input received from Tribes during the consultation process, reflecting the department’s appreciation for the feedback that helped shape the initiative.
For the full details and insights, please refer to the original press release at the following link: https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_24_053