DENVER — CUNA's "Homes for Our Troops" project to build two homes for wounded Iraqi soldiers during the Republican and Democratic conventions moved ahead over the July 4 holiday with more progress on construction and fundraising getting closer to a $300,000 goal.

"We're waiting on some inspections and now it looks it will be completely ready by first or second week of August in time for handing over the deed at the convention," said Chris Kemm, project coordinator for the Credit Union Association of Colorado/Wyoming, which like its Minnesota counterpart has been collaborating with CUNA on the humanitarian venture.

While aiding the support troop cause, CUs hope to gain some high profile public exposure as the two $150,000 homes are presented to Army Sgt. Travis Strong of Colorado during the Democratic convention here Aug. 24-27 and to Colorado native Sgt. Marcus Kuboy of Minneota at the GOP gathering Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul.