October 18, 2010

CARSON, HOUSING AGENCY ANNOUNCE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS, CAPITAL INVESTMENT
Recovery Act funding creating jobs across Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS - A multimillion dollar investment in public housing throughout Indianapolis is creating hundreds of jobs for Hoosiers, Congressman André Carson announced today.

Joined by workers, residents and officials from the Indianapolis Housing Agency (IHA), Carson said that IHA has received more than $21 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which has been used to leverage an additional $117 million to rehabilitate, acquire and construct more affordable housing units and properties.

"Across the country, the Recovery Act is putting people back to work rebuilding our communities while, at the same time, helping our economy rebound from one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression," said Congressman Carson. "The improvements being made across Indianapolis' public housing developments highlight the impact these investments can have locally.

"Already nearly 300 Hoosiers are back on the job thanks to IHA's capital improvement plan with up to 300 more to be hired as other projects get underway."

Utilizing ARRA funds, IHA will:

• Rehabilitate 1,324 housing units;
• Create more than 400 brand new housing opportunities;
• Make substantial renovations to common spaces, including computer labs, a library, health care facilities, community rooms and public kitchens; and
• Increase energy efficiency throughout several properties by replacing out-of-date household appliances with more energy-efficient units.

"Without the funding from the Recovery Act there is no way that IHA could make the investment it has made to develop a new standard of living for our residents," said IHA Executive Director, Bud Myers. "We appreciate the hard work that the Congressman has done in Washington to help secure money for our communities and our city."

IHA expects to have the entire multi-million dollar capital improvement plan completed by the end of 2011.

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