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HUDNEWS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND UR B AN DEVELOPMENT WASHINGTON D . C. 20410 HUD-NO. 69-0503 Phone (202) 755-6980 FOR RELEASE AFTER: 10:00 A.M., Thursday June 26, 1969 HUD TENDERS MODEL CITIES CONTRACT TO TOLEDO, OHIO Secretary George Romney of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the tender of a $4,410,000 Model Cities contract to Toledo, Ohio. Toledo will also be given support from other programs administered by HUD, the Departments of Health, Education and Welfare, Labor, Agriculture and the Office of Economic Opportunity. Today's action by Secretary Romney will enable Toledo to begin the first-year action phase under its comprehensive fiveyear Model Cities program. State, county, local and private resources will also be used by the city in its concentrated, coordinated attack on the serious social, economic and physical problems within the Model Cities area. Secretary Romney, who is Chairman of the President's Cabinet Committee on Voluntary Action, noted the extensive private and public involvement in the Toledo program. Segments of the larger Toledo business community have been involved with two groups of young professionals and semiprofessionals-- Harambee and the Toledo Council of Business-- in the planning and implementation of a number of model neighborhood projects. Other private groups involved in the Model Cities program include the National Association of Businessmen, Community Traction Company, Owens- Illinois Corporation, Chamber of Commerce, the First National Bank and the Toledo Trust Bank. The president of the local Laborers Union served as chairman of the Employment Functional Committee. These groups were also active: Northwest Ohio Council of Social Services Agencies, American Cancer Society, Maumee Valley Hospital, Tuberculosis Soc iety of Toledo and Lucas County and the University of Toledo . Commenting on the decision to tender a contract, Secretary Romney explained that this was done after a careful review of the Toledo comprehensive plan. The plan was thoroughly studied (MORE) �HUD-No. 69-0503 -2and analyzed both by the Regional and Washington Interagency . Review Committees representing those Federal Departments and Agencies with urban aid programs. "During the past several months, Toledo has done an excellent job in revising its proposals and improving its capability to operate in the first-year action program," he said. A total of 150 communities in 45 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are participating in the Model Cities program. The first applications for planning grants were approved in November 1967. For further information: Charles Penn Model Cities Director City Hall 1100 Jackson Street Toledo, Ohio 43624 Mayor William Ensign City Hall 1100 Jackson Street Toledo, Ohio 43624 Note: A summary of the Toledo Model Cities program is available upon request to the Division of Public Affairs, U. s. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D. C. 20410

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