Norfolk State University Receives
Housing and Urban Development HBCU Grant

Norfolk, Va.—Norfolk State University has been awarded a $600,000 grant as one of 13 historically black colleges and universities across the nation to receive a share of a $10.4 million Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant. NSU’s funds have been earmarked to provide assistance to the Office of Community and Outreach Services for its outreach programs in Broad Creek, Brambleton, Chesterfield Heights, Douglas Park, Huntersville, Spartan Village and several other low to moderate income neighborhoods near the university.

The HBCU grants, administered by the HUD Office of University Partnerships, are designed to “ensure HBUCs continue to educate many of the nation’s African American physicians, lawyers and business leaders while also being able to revitalize the communities that surround them,” said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. “Throughout the nation, we have seen HBCUs breathe life into struggling college towns and blighted urban neighborhoods,” said Jackson.

HUD’s HBCU program funds grantees to carry out projects designed primarily to benefit low and moderate income residents, help prevent or eliminate slums or blight, or meet urgent community development needs in their localities.

NSU proposes to conduct five tasks designed to complement existing revitalization efforts taking place in the city. These activities include:

• Provide assistance to the community center located in the enterprise and empowerment zone (fund two positions, one full-time and one part-time)

• Support Broad Creek Broadband Technology; conduct a wireless site survey; establish a youth based, technology, technical assistance program and provide basic and advanced technology education

• Provide General Educational Development (GED) preparatory classes with mentoring

• Provide health, educational, recreational and cultural programs

• Support existing homeless, transitional housing programs
   

NSU partnered with several neighborhood organizations including the City of Norfolk; the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia; the Vetshouse, Inc; One Economy Corporation, MELANET, LC and several University offices – the Veteran’s Club, Veterans Affairs, and the Service-Learning Center to apply for the HUD funds. The HUD HBCU program assists the university in expanding its role and effectiveness in addressing community issues through positive initiatives. Planned activities will aid in meeting the needs of low and moderate income persons, improve access to area resources for members of the community, demonstrate goodwill toward NSU’s neighbors, enhance literacy rates, empower residents and build new partnerships.

For more information, contact Debra Atkins, Director of the Office of Community and Outreach Services, at 823-2372.