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U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY LAUNCHES NEW CENTER FOR FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans today announced the appointment of David Bohigian as the Executive Director of the Department of Commerce Office of Faith- Based and Community Initiatives.

"We must ensure that the faith that animates the lives of so many Americans is not inordinately restrained from advancing the public good through faith-based and community programs,” said Evans.

The President announced his objective to launch a faith-based and community initiative in an Executive Order issued on Jan. 29, 2001. The initiative is working to make it easier for these organizations to work with the government by giving them equal footing with other contractors when competing for federal dollars. By eliminating bureaucratic barriers and regulatory hurdles, the program is dedicated to providing better services for those in need.

In addition to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the President has established centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at 9 other agencies: Departments of Justice, Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, the Agency for International Development, and the Small Business Administration.

The Department of Commerce has a long history of providing grants and assistance to distressed communities and small and minority-owned businesses. The new center will help eliminate regulatory and other barriers and enable faith-based and community organizations to deliver outstanding services in these areas.

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