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RCAC rural development specialist receives award for his commitment to affordable housing
Richard Walker, RCAC rural development specialist – housing in Utah, received the Person of the Year award at the Utah Housing Coalition’s annual housing conference on Oct. 4. The award is given to individuals in the Utah housing community who have shown leadership, and innovation, or went beyond his/her call of service to advocate, preserve and grow affordable housing capacity in Utah. In addition, all seven of RCAC’s U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Mutual Self-Help grantees in Utah were awarded Project of the Year! Read the recent article on the awards presentation in The Salt Lake Tribune >>
The future is now
By Alex Breitler, Recordnet.com
Net zero energy homes aim to produce, conserve as much energy as their owners use and they're being built today along Farmington Road east of Highway 99. You won't see lots of gadgets and gizmos on the walls - these are regular homes where regular families should enjoy an irregularly small electric bill. For more information about these net zero homes click here>>
Art Gonzales and SEWHC of Racine County – 41 Years of Self-Help Housing
(Reprinted with permission from NCALL)
In November 2011, Art Gonzales and Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Corporation (SEWHC) of Racine County discontinued their self-help housing program. This decision was not an easy one for the staff and board of SEWHC, but the economy in their area made the program no longer feasible. They are continuing to look for other alternatives that might enable them to provide affordable housing to those in need. Read more about their achievements>>
Made in America: A Blueprint for Creating Jobs
By David Muir and Ben Forer, ABCNews.go.com
In Bozeman, Mont., Anders Lewendal is hard at work building a home he hopes will be a blueprint for creating jobs in America. Lewendal, an economist turned builder, is constructing a house made entirely from U.S.-made products. Everything from the nails, screws and bolts, to the steel, staples and bathtub is made in the United States.
"Every piece here is made in America," he said.
Lewendal is convinced that if every builder bought just 5 percent more U.S.-made materials, they would create 220,000 jobs. The Boston Consulting Group agrees, confirming that Lewendal's numbers add up. Read more>>