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/G~ EWS U.S . DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT WASHINGTON D.C. 20410 HUD-No. 69-0355 Phone (202) 755-6980 HUD TENDERS MODEL CITIES CONTRACT TO WACO, TEXAS FOR RELEASE: A. M. Papers Saturday May 10, 1969 Secretary George Romney, of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, today announced the tender of a $2,642,000 Model Cities Contract to Waco, Texas. Waco has also been given assurances for substantial funds from other programs administered by HUD, and by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the Department of Labor,and the Office of Economic Opportunity. Today's action by Secretary Romney will enable the city to begin the first year action phase under its comprehensive five-year Model Cities program. State, 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. Of the $2 ,642, 000 in Model Cities supplemental funds, approximately $500,000 will be used to generate some $2,600,000 in capital construction, Secretary Romney said. HUD has approved a $1,500,000 sanitary sewer project, and e x pects to approve $200,000 for a neighborhood facility, an urban renewal program and 100 units of public housing. HEW has stated that, in addition to substantial HEW funds which presently provide health, education and welfare services to the Waco Model Cities area, HEW agencies have indicated the potential availability of $663,700. HEW will continue its ongoing efforts with the City of Waco to make these funds available to carry out the Waco plan, to the extent possible under existing program legislation. Included are programs for higher educational activity, the Teacher Corps, maternal and infant care , comprehensive health planning, rehabilitation research and training, and treating the mentally retarded. A total of $2 , 087 , 000 for a concentrated Employment Program in Waco , funded by the Department of Labor ,wi ll provide work training, work experience and other manpower services for Model cities area residents. - more - �HUD-No. 69-0355 - 2 - The Office of Economic Opportunity indicated that it expects to maintain the present $621~ 000 level of annual funding for Community Action Program activity within the Waco Model Cities area. Secretary Romne y , who is the Chai r man of the President's Cabinet Committee on Vo l untary Action, noted the extensive private involvement in the Waco program . Besides the contributions of private groups in the planning process, which is expected to grow during the action stage, volunteer help is available from such organizations as the McLennan County Medical Society, the American Institute of Architects, the United Fund and the Alta Corporation. The County Medical Society is contributing $13,600 towards a coordinated health program. The Alta Corporation is sponsoring a minority h ome builder to build 1 4 dwelling units in a Residents Homebuilders project . "The largest volunteer contribution has been the neighborhood residents themselves," Secretary Romney said. Commenting on the decision to tender a contract, Secretary Romney explained that this was done after a careful review of the Waco comprehensive plan . The plan was thoroughl y studied and analyzed both b y the Regional and Washington Interagency Review Committees representing those Federal Departments and Agenc i es with urban aid p r ograms . "During the past several months, Waco has done an e x cellent job in revising its proposals and improving its capability to operate in the first y ear action prog r;:, m," he said . "Other comprehensive plan approvals and contr ac t tenders are following a similar p r ocess a nd addit i o n al announceme nts will be made o v er the n ext sev era l week s . " A total of 150 communities in 45 States , the District of Columbi a a n d Puerto Rico a re participating in the Model Cit i es program . Th e f ir st a pplications for plann ing grants were app r oved in No vembe r 1 9 6 7 . At tached is a summary o f Wa c o ' s comprehen s iv e p l an which i n c l udes de s cript ions of firs t y ear ac tion p r og r ams using Model Cities supplemental fun ds . Fo r further informatio n : Jame s J. Miller Model Citi e s Office City Hall Wac o , Texas 767 0 1 (817) PL3 - 2441 Honorable Howard Dudgeon Mayor , City Hall Waco , Texas 76701

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