Press Release: Rural Development, Inc. Home Ownership Program

GRANT WILL CREATE GREEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Springfield, July 20, 2006 -- HAP, Inc., the region’s housing partnership, announces that it has received a $2,000,000 grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) to support the creation of new green, affordable housing in the four counties of western Massachusetts.

Through a highly competitive process, MTC chose six partner organizations from a deep pool of proposals. HAP, Inc., in partnership with Rural Development, Inc. (RDI) of Franklin County, will incorporate high-performance design and renewable energy technologies to build healthier, more affordable, energy-efficient homes.

HAP and other nonprofit developers will be able to use these funds for renewable energy systems and the incremental costs associated with green building upgrades for homes that meet or exceed Energy Star standards in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire Counties. It is anticipated that 50 homes for first-time buyers and about 90 rental units will be produced that are not just affordable to buy or rent but will be affordable to maintain over the long term.

“These funds come at a particularly opportune time,” said HAP Executive Director Peter Gagliardi. “Low and moderate income families feel the greatest pinch when energy prices rise. HAP is pleased to be able to coordinate this effort to encourage greater energy efficiency in the homes being built for working families of modest means and those on fixed incomes. This project is an excellent example of cooperation among the region’s nonprofit housing developers. We are excited at the prospect of seeing photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems incorporated into affordable housing projects.”

Selected projects will receive project-specific technical support and hands-on field training by experienced building trades people. Grant funds will also be used to provide green building education and training to all affordable housing developers as well as public presentations and tours of green homes.

As the region’s housing partnership serving Hampden and Hampshire Counties, HAP provides a broad range of housing services to meet the needs of low and moderate-income households and is the region’s largest nonprofit developer of affordable housing.