§ 597.100 - Eligibility requirements and data usage.

A nominated urban area may be eligible for designation pursuant to this part only if the area:

(a) Has a maximum population which is the lesser of:

(1) 200,000; or

(2) The greater of 50,000 or ten percent of the population of the most populous city located within the nominated area;

(b) Is one of pervasive poverty, unemployment and general distress, as described in §597.102;

(c) Does not exceed twenty square miles in total land area;

(d) Has a continuous boundary, or consists of not more than three noncontiguous parcels;

(e) Is located entirely within the jurisdiction of the unit or units of general local government making the nomination, and is located in no more than two contiguous States; and

(f) Does not include any portion of a central business district, as this term is used in the most recent Census of Retail Trade, unless the poverty rate for each population census tract in the district is not less than 35 percent for an Empowerment Zone and 30 percent for an Enterprise Community.