NEWS AND EVENTS

April 17, 2006 -- Yesterday Housing Dept. Director Milton Wilson and Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts (MECA) formally began the citywide celebration of National Community Development Week, April 17-21, 2006 with a ground breaking ceremony for the restoration of the Dow School. The City of Houston has allocated $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help restore the historic Dow School building.

"The CDBG program enables Houston to address physical, economic and human services," said Wilson. "Community Development Week provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the significant role the CDBG program plays in Houston. The restoration of the Dow School and the services provided to Houston's youth by MECA make Houston a more viable place to live."

The Dow School is home to MECA, a community based non-profit organization that promotes social, cultural and academic development of at-risk inner-city youth through education in the arts. More than 1,500 students attend MECA and more than 3,000 students participate in workshops and projects. The Dow School building is a three-story facility dating back to 1915 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

National Community Development Week is an annual event showcasing activities and projects assisted by CDBG funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that enhance the quality of life for low- and moderate-income persons in Houston.

Enacted into law in 1974, the CDBG program is the principal federal program providing grants to states, cities, and towns to devise neighborhood approaches that will improve the physical, economic and social conditions in communities.

Community Development Week 2006 marks the 32nd Anniversary of the CDBG program and is sponsored by Houston's Housing and Community Development Department. The City of Houston expects to receive approximately $30 million in CDBG funds in fiscal year 2006.