Seven Utah housing programs affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been recognized for their efforts to assist people with limited income build their own homes in rural areas.

The annual Project of the Year award went to Utah grantees that administer the USDA Rural Development Mutual Self-Help Housing program.

They are Neighborhood Nonprofit Housing Corp. in Logan, Color Country Community Housing Inc. in St. George, the Uintah Basin Association of Governments in Roosevelt, the Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah in Moab, the Six County Association of Governments in Richfield, the Rural Housing Development Corp. in Provo and the Mountainlands Community Housing Trust in Park City.

The agencies were recognized for helping provide single-family homes in rural communities, despite the threat of termination of the program. The possible loss of the program prompted the agencies to implement a campaign that tells stories of the families served and the jobs created through the program.

The Salt Lake Tribune