SEATTLE, Wash.

Grants to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks Interior Aleutian campus and the Northwest Indian College in Bellingham, Wash., have been announced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD Secretary Steve Preston awarded the grants to help the institutions to expand, renovate, and equip their own facilities, to improve student housing and to support construction of new facilities.

The awards were among 21 nationwide announced earlier this month by the Secretary that totaled $13.955.080. Many of the institutions that won the competitively awarded grants serve remote areas, and a growing number of local residents depend heavily on the education, counseling, health, and employment services they offer, HUD said.

"These institutions of higher learning are critical to the health and vitality of their communities," said Preston. "HUD and these tribal colleges and universities are working hand-in-hand to improve their facilities so they can continue to be a vital resource for their students, faculty and the communities they serve."

According to the Department:

• The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Interior Aleutians Campus will use its $799,965 HUD Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities (AN/NHIAC) grant to renovate the Gaalee'ya Spirit Camp. The culture camp has been used for nearly 20 years for the healing of young people struggling with substance abuse, suicide, and academic failure. The university will work with the Interior Regional Housing Authority and with the Cold Climate Housing Research Center on the project.

• The Northwest Indian College in Bellingham, Wash., intends to use its $750,000 HUD Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) grant to construct a new Center for Student Success, one of the key facilities required to become a fully functioning four-year, degree granting institution. It will also renovate and maintain existing facilities.

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