VENEMAN DEDICATES MIGRANT/SEASONAL FARMWORKER HOUSING FACILITY IN FLORIDA

DOVER, Fla., Oct. 15, 2003--Agriculture Secretary Ann M.Veneman traveled to Dover, Fla. to help dedicate the San Jose Mission here, an 80-unit farm worker housing complex.

“The San Jose Mission housing complex is a great example of what can be done through public and private partnerships,” said Veneman. “Providing farm workers improved living conditions and an opportunity for a greater quality of life will help improve rural communities in central Florida.”

Veneman joined Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Rep. Adam Putnam and other local officials during the dedication ceremony. Partners in the project include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Sun Trust Bank, Wachovia Bank, CitiGroup and Catholic Charities. Veneman highlighted the work of Catholic Charities as an example of what President Bush’s Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

“Faith based and community organizations play an important role in the success of these projects,” said Veneman. “USDA is pleased to be part of the President’s Faith Based and Community Initiative.”

Over the past three years USDA has provided over $9 million in grant funds to assist in the construction of farm worker housing in Hillsborough and Collier Counties, of which $3.25 million was provided to the Catholic Charities, Inc. for the construction of the 80-unit family style-housing complex in Dover. In August 2001, Veneman participated in a ground breaking ceremony for another phase of the project in Immokalee, a 192-bed facility in the Fort Myers and Naples area of which USDA is providing $3.26 million. In addition, USDA is providing $1.63 million for a facility that will house 124 workers in Ruskin in Hillsborough County. Those projects are expected to be complete by the end of the year.

USDA capital financing of farm worker housing is provided through loans and grants administered by USDA Rural Development. Loans are made to farmers, associations of farmers, family farm corporations, Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and associations of farm workers. Grants are made to farm worker associations, nonprofit organizations, Indian tribes, and public agencies. Funds may be used in urban areas for nearby farm labor.

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. Rural Development provides equity 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 www.rurdev.usda.gov . For information on President Bush’s Faith Based Initiative, visit www.whitehouse.gov/.

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