§ 598.110 - Tests of pervasive poverty, unemployment and general distress.

(a) Pervasive poverty. Pervasive poverty is demonstrated by evidence that:

(1) Poverty, as indicated by the number of persons listed as being in poverty in the 1990 Decennial Census, is widespread throughout the nominated area; or

(2) Poverty, as described above, has become entrenched or intractable over time (through comparison of 1980 and 1990 census data or other relevant evidence).

(b) Unemployment. Unemployment is demonstrated by:

(1) The most recent data available indicating that the annual rate of unemployment for the nominated area is not less than the national annual average rate of unemployment; or

(2) Evidence of especially severe economic conditions, such as military base or plant closings or other conditions that have brought about significant job dislocation within the nominated area.

(c) General distress. General distress is evidenced by describing adverse conditions within the nominated urban area other than those of pervasive poverty and unemployment. Below average or decline in per capita income, earnings per worker, number of persons on welfare, per capita property tax base, average years of school completed, substantial population decline, and a high or rising incidence of crime, narcotics use, homelessness, high incidence of AIDS, abandoned housing, deteriorated infrastructure, school dropouts, teen pregnancy, incidence of domestic violence, incidence of certain health conditions and illiteracy are examples of appropriate indicators of general distress.