.NTYyOA.NTYyOA

HUDNEWS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT WASHINGTON D . C. 20410 HUD-No. 69-0545 Phone (202) 755-7327 FOR RELEASE AFTER: 2:00 p.m., Monday June 30, 1969 MODEL CITIES CONTRACT TENDERED TO ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI Secretary George Romney of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the tender of a $5,183,000 Model Cities contract to St. Louis, Mo. St . Louis w ill also be given support from other programs administered by HUD, by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the Department of Labor, and the Office of Economic Opportunity. State, county, local and private resources w ill also be used by the city in its concentrated, coordinated attack on the serious social , physical and economic problems within the Model Cities area . Secretary Romney said that the remainder of St. Louis' $9,485,000 allocation of Model Cities funds has been reserved for the city, pending further development of additional projects and activities planned by the city and their approval by HUD. "St. Louis has developed a comprehensive overall plan and has carefully established priorities for the start of its first year activities," Secretary Romney said. "Our action today approves those projects which the city is ready to start on immediately. While funding of neighborhood corporation operations has been approved, more w ork needs to be done with re spect to those corporations before these projects get underway . Further work is also required to develop projects to make use of the more than $4 million of program funds still held in re serve for possible use in St. Louis this year. We will give prompt consideration to the remaining projects and activities when they are presented t o us." Secretary Romney, who is also Chairman of the President's Cabinet Committee on Voluntary Action, noted the private and public involvement in the St. Louis program. - more - �HUD-No . 69-0545 - 2 - Many components of the St. Louis model cities program are benef itting from volunteer efforts. For example, recreation programs in the model neighborhood will use volunteers from church groups, civic organizations and business groups. In the Jeff Vander-Lou area, several local business men, architects and area residents are involved in a housing rehabilitation program. neighborhood residents will receive training in building skills through the St. Louis Associated General Contractors and the AFL Labor Council.. The Danforth Foundation of St. Louis has contributed to the arts and educational programs. Commenting on the decision to tender a contract, Secretary Romney explained that this was done after a careful review of the St. Louis comprehensive plan. The plan was thoroughly studied and analyzed both by the Regional and Washington Interagency Review Committees representing those Federal Departments and Agencies with urban aid programs. 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 196 7. For further information: Mar_garet B. Wilson, Acting Dire ctor Model Cities Agency Civil Courts Building 12th and Market Streets St. Louis, Mo. 63101 Mayor Alfonso J. Cervantes City Hall St. Louis, Mo. 63101 NOTE: A summary of the St. Louis Model Cities Program is available upon request to the Office of Public Affairs, U.S . Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C. 20410.

V �