Comite de Bien Estar begins construction of Somerton apartments

  Tierra del Cielo is the name of the first apartment complex spearheaded by Comite de Bien Estar, Inc. in Somerton with a groundbreaking on Thursday the construction began. The 33 apartment complex will be located at the north end of the city on Somerton Avenue and Brenda Street.

 "We have been waiting for years to do something in Somerton. Somerton has the population we work with, we serve people in the low to moderate income levels, specifically the farmworkers of this community," said Marco Antonio Reyes, Executive Director for Comite de Bien Estar, Inc.

 "We are proud to be able to come to Somerton and help with the housing needs," he added.

 The organization has been providing low to moderate income housing in San Luis , Ariz. for over 25 years.

 The Tierra del Cielo Apartments  should be completed in April, with an investment of $6.3 millon, from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Arizona Housing Department and from the Federal Home Loan Bank including Bank of America.

 Reyes explained that the apartments will consist of 2 and 3 bedrooms, subsidized rentals, that will benefit families that have low to moderate incomes which is very evident in this area.

 Eddie Browning, director of Rural Development for USDA was also present for the groundbreaking and said that this project was the continuation of the work they are doing in this community.

 The USDA has  financed many housing projects in this community with different organizations like Housing America, Inc., Campesinos Sin Fronteras in Somerton.

 Browning mentioned, that a high percentage of the homes Housing America has built have been with USDA dollars.