Three local organizations received the Shining Star Award for 2004 given by the HUD St. Louis Field Office.
St. Louis City television station City TV-10 was recognized for its documentary Fair Housing: Keeping the Dream Alive, which featured an interview with HUD Assistant Secretary for FHEO Carolyn Y. Peoples. The documentary educated city residents about fair housing rights and possible courses of action if their rights had been violated.
The Homebuilders Association of Greater St. Louis received the Shining Star Award for producing CITIRAMA, which made approximately 70 units available in the Gaslight Square Block for families seeking homeownership opportunities.
Pyramid Construction, Inc. also received an award for its acquisition and continued renovation of the Paul Brown Building. The project will add 222 rental-housing units to downtown St. Louis. Nearly half of the units will be available for low- and moderate-income families.
Several other Missouri organizations received Shining Star Awards for community involvement in 2004.
Advent Enterprises, Inc. developed the Columbia Builds Youth YOUTHBUILD program in Columbia. The Macon Housing Authority provided youth with the opportunity to be trained in soil sampling and woodworking through the Youth Empowerment Garden Project. And, over the past two years, the Missouri Housing Development Commission provided funds for the rehabilitation and preservation of almost 2000 housing units in Eastern Missouri.