[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MARY ``JOSIE'' CUDA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2014

  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mary ``Josie'' 
Cuda for her three decades of service in community and housing 
development, from Bolivia to Elkins, West Virginia.
  Josie started her career serving others thirty years ago as a 
community organizer in Bolivia, followed by jobs as a flood relief 
worker and a position in human services. She spent seventeen years with 
the Randolph County Housing Authority and her final fourteen years as 
the agency's Executive Director. During Josie's time with the Randolph 
County Housing Authority, she developed a reputation as an innovative 
leader, using creativity and imagination to maximize her agency's 
footprint, serving moderate to low income hardworking West Virginians. 
She used funds from the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, the 
HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and money from the Federal Home 
Loan Bank to develop over one hundred homes and thirty apartment units 
during her tenure as Executive Director of the Randolph County Housing 
Authority. In addition, independent non-profit partners Woodlands 
Development Group and the Home Ownership Center were both started 
during Josie's tenure, in order to make safe, decent, affordable 
housing more accessible.
  Since leaving the Randolph County Housing Authority, Josie's 
attention has remained focused on community and housing development. 
She has worked with CommunityWorks and the West Virginia Community 
Development Hub to bring Achieving Excellence in Community Development 
to West Virginia, a program which helps provide training to non-profit 
organizations working to improve their communities. So far, ten housing 
organizations and sixteen community groups have utilized this program 
in West Virginia.
  On May 1, 2014, Mary ``Josie'' Cuda will be inducted into the 
Affordable Housing Hall of Fame by Habitat for Humanity of West 
Virginia. Mrs. Cuda is truly deserving of such an honor, as countless 
West Virginians have her to thank for a better quality of life, better 
housing, and better communities.
  Josie is married to Frank Cuda, a family nurse practitioner. Together 
they have twin sons and three grandchildren, with a fourth on the way!
  Mr. Speaker, Randolph County, as well as the State of West Virginia, 
owe Mary ``Josie'' Cuda a debt of gratitude for her many years of 
devoted community service. I am proud to call her a friend and fellow 
West Virginian.

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