WASHINGTON-Recognizing Homeownership month, NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar will address the Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Summit on June 16 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Introducing Dollar at the event will be Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Gilbert G. Gonzalez, Jr., whose name has arisen as a potential candidate for the NCUA Board. Dollar's official term expired in April. The chairman plans to discuss the success of the agency's Access Across America initiative, which works to create financial empowerment for all. "Our partnership with USDA is a great resource for America's credit unions to consider participating in because of the numerous programs available through USDA's Office of Rural Development in regard to rural housing funding programs and cooperative business services," Dollar said. "The USDA recognizes the growing role of credit union partnerships in helping folks from all walks of life to attain the American Dream of homeownership and spurring economic growth in communities across America, and I am honored that they have included me as a presenter at this national Summit. It will be a tremendous opportunity to highlight our Access Across America successes and to hopefully lay the groundwork for more." Dollar and Gonzalez signed a Memorandum of Agreement last September for the NCUA-USDA partnership to promote the Rural Business-Cooperative Service and the Rural Housing Service to credit union organizations. Also addressing the summit will be USDA Secretary Ann Veneman and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez. Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) will keynote the event. For more information about the summit, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov. Also concerning housing, Dollar will be participating in a HUD homeownership forum June 20 in Birmingham, Ala. The agenda has not yet been finalized.