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For Immediate Release Merced Housing Affordability Forum to be Held on Wednesday, July 2 Merced – A forum on affordable housing in the greater Merced area will take place on Wednesday, July 2nd at the Merced City Council Chamber. The initiative is sponsored by the City and County of Merced; UC Merced; the California Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency, and the California State and Consumer Services Agency. The housing conference is free and open to the public. The program will include two components: 1) A general information session from 9 a.m. to noon which will survey local issues in housing, describe actions currently being taken to address housing issues, and identify funding sources for affordable housing, and; 2) An afternoon technical workshop from 1:15 to 4 p.m. specifically designed to provide information to homebuilders, real estate developers, investors, and brokers about market conditions and funding opportunities for development of affordable housing. The morning session will include presentations by state housing officials and local government representatives on growth projections for Merced, housing supply and market trends, and state and federal financing opportunities for affordable housing. The session will also include an update on UC Merced and the planned community being created next to the university campus. The afternoon workshop will feature technical presentations by state, local, and federal, entities that are involved in housing development. The program is designed to acquaint builders, developers, realtors, and others with information about market conditions and sources of financing for affordable housing available through the $2.1 billion California Housing and Homeless Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2002. In order to ensure sufficient space for participants, those wishing to attend the forum are asked to register by phone with the UC Merced Chancellor’s Office: 209-724-4419. # # # |
