THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 1, 1996 TAG: 9610010314
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KIA MORGAN ALLEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 51 lines
Norfolk State University received a $500,000 federal grant Monday to enhance a neighborhood community center near the campus that the university operates.
The Brambleton Outreach Center will provide additional services to youths and senior citizens, such as after-school activities and free health screenings.
Norfolk State is one of three historically black colleges in the country to split a $1.5 million award toward neighborhood renewal. In partnership with the city of Norfolk, the grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will fund the renovation of the facility. A loan program also will be created to encourage small business development among public housing residents, as well as to train Brambleton public housing residents how to use such emerging technology as the Internet.
NSU President Harrison B. Wilson, along with Mayor Paul D. Fraim and Vice Mayor Herbert Collins, received word of the community development subsidy during a conference call from HUD Deputy Secretary Dwight Robinson.
Also on the line were representatives from Coppin State College in Baltimore, Md., and Fort Valley State College in Fort Valley, Ga., the other colleges to benefit from the award.
``The doctor's going to tell you that this money is going to be very well spent on educating, loans and fixing up the center,'' Fraim said referring to Wilson.
Fraim also noted that the city has a continuing partnership with NSU to improve the quality of life in the Brambleton community. Wilson said he was glad to see the partnership grow.
``We are excited to continue our relationship with our community,'' Wilson said.
The grant, Wilson said, is part of a broader initiative aimed at getting the university more involved in the community. For example, the grant will mesh with NSU's proposed Urban Institute, which will help address urban problems including drug abuse and inner-city education.
In conjunction with the overall project, NSU received $1 million in construction funds from HUD in 1993. The first $500,000 was used to renovate eight existing homes in the Brambleton community and the second $500,000 will be used to build four new homes. So far, only one of the four homes has been built.
``The biggest chunk goes toward construction. The programs are written so that they are holistic in their approach,'' said Carolyn Bell, associate vice president for development and community relations at NSU. ``Some of the monies will be used toward the youth, senior citizens, job training and educational workshops,'' she said.
KEYWORDS: NSU GRANT by CNB