HUD Launches ‘Recovery Act in Action’ Week in Chicago

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorWashington, D.C.–The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with the city of Chicago, recently launched HUD’s “Recovery Act in Action” Week, along with $143 million in Recovery Act funds, in order to improve Chicago public housing, create jobs and jumpstart the local economy. The announcement marks the first day of HUD’s “Recovery Act in Action” Week, which is dedicated to communication with HUD’s stakeholders, grantees, staff and partners about the funds that are available for competition and Recovery Act program implementation. The week will include three days of webcasts that will provide education and technical assistance. Sixteen HUD Field Offices will host “Housing Parties” throughout the country for stakeholders and grantees to view the webcasts.  “We are launching our ‘Recovery Act in Action’ Week to ensure the American taxpayer’s investment is well spent,” says Secretary of HUD, Shaun Donovan. “Using innovative new media outreach strategies helps us to reach our stakeholders in a way that HUD has not done before. The President and I are convinced that if the Recovery Act is going to have a meaningful impact in growing our economy, we must get ‘bang for the buck’ so we are providing implementation guidance through interactive webinars to make sure we are getting the most out of our investment.”The HUD secretary visited Kenmore Apartments, a senior housing development operated by the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) in uptown Chicago. Of the $143 million dollars CHA received in Recovery Act Public Housing Capital Funds, CHA is using $19 million to upgrade the Kenmore Apartments, including energy efficiency upgrades, which will lead to significant operating and utility cost reductions. This Recovery Act funded project will also lead to the creation of 150 jobs for Chicago residents. In addition to the specific Recovery Act funds going to Chicago, HUD is also making $3.57 billion available in competitive grants, including funds for public and Native American housing, neighborhood stabilization, and green retrofits for federally assisted housing”The renovation project underway at Kenmore Apartments in Chicago is a perfect example of how Recovery Act funds are being used to put Americans back to work [and] improve housing and local economies, while also reducing our carbon footprint,” says Secretary Donovan.