scope:

This part contains provisions relating to area requirements, the nomination process for rural Empowerment Zones and rural Enterprise Communities, and the designation of these Zones and Communities by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Secretary) (USDA). Provisions dealing with the nominations and designation of urban Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities are promulgated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This part also contains provisions relating to granting certain nominated areas status as Champion communities.

Applicability. This part contains policies and procedures applicable to rural empowerment zones and enterprise communities, authorized under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, title XIII, subchapter C, part I (Round I), the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, title IX, subtitle F (Round II), the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-277) (Round IIS), and the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-554) (Round III).

Objective and purpose.

The purpose of this part is to provide for the establishment of Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities in rural areas in order to facilitate the empowerment of the disadvantaged and long-term unemployed such that they may become economically self-sufficient, and to promote revitalization of economically distressed areas, primarily by facilitating:

(a) Coordination of economic, human services, health, transportation, education, community, and physical development plans, and other plans and related activities at the local level;

(b) Local partnerships fully involving affected communities and local institutions and organizations in developing and implementing a comprehensive multi-sectoral strategic plan for any nominated rural Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community;

(c) Tax incentives and credits; and

(d) Distribution of other federal resources including grants from USDA and other federal departments, including Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Social Services Block Grant (EZ/EC SSBG) funds as may be available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).