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).