[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1148]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: January 18, 1994]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
RIN 0503-AA09
Notice Inviting Applications for Designation of Rural Empowerment
Zones and Enterprise Communities
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.
ACTION: Notice inviting applications.
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SUMMARY: This Notice invites applications from States and local
governments nominating rural areas for designation as Empowerment Zones
(``EZ'') and Enterprise Communities (``EC''), as those terms are
defined in this Notice and in an interim rule published elsewhere in
today's Federal Register. The interim rule provides the guidance
necessary for completion and submission of the applications.
DATES: Application due date: The deadline for receipt of an application
will be 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time, Thursday, June 30, 1994.
Applications received after this date will not be considered.
Applications may not be submitted prior to 30 days from the date of
publication of the interim rule.
ADDRESSES: Applications may be obtained from EZ/EC State Contacts
located at the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) State or District
Offices listed in the appendix to this Notice or by sending an Internet
Mail message to: info@ezec.usda.gov. to obtain the application.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Beverly C. Gillot, Strategy Development Staff, Rural Development
Administration, room 5405, Department of Agriculture, 14th and
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3200, telephone 202-690-
1045 (this is not a toll free number), or by sending an Internet Mail
message to: info@ezec.usda.gov to obtain information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act
The information collection requirements contained in this notice
have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).
No person may be subjected to a penalty for failure to comply with
these information collection requirements until they have been approved
and assigned an OMB control number. The OMB control number, when
assigned, will be announced by separate notice in the Federal Register.
The burden for collecting the required information is estimated to
include the time for reviewing the instructions, searching existing
data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing
and reviewing the collection of information. Information on the
estimated public reporting burden is provided under the heading, Other
Matters. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden, to: Jack Holston, FmHA Clearance Officer, Farmers
Home Administration, AG Box 0743, Department of Agriculture,
Washington, DC 20250-3200; and the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for
USDA, Washington, DC 20503.
I. Background
One of the core items of President Clinton's economic proposals is
the need to empower America's distressed rural and urban communities.
His Empowerment Zone proposal represents a new approach to the problems
of distressed communities. It emphasizes a bottom-up community based
strategy rather than the traditional top-down bureaucratic approach. It
is a strategy to address economic, human, community, and physical
development problems and opportunities in a comprehensive fashion.
Title XIII of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993, enacted to
implement the President's vision, authorizes the Secretary of
Department of Agriculture to designate up to three Empowerment Zones
and up to 30 Enterprise Communities in rural areas. (Unless otherwise
noted, all references in this Notice to Empowerment Zones also include
Enterprise Communities.) This Notice invites applications from State
and local governments, regional planning agencies, non-profit
organizations, community-based organizations, or other locally-based
organizations for the Secretarial designations as Empowerment Zones or
Enterprise Communities.
The program is intended to combine the resources of the Federal
Government with those of State and local governments, educational
institutions and the private and non-profit sectors to implement
community-developed strategic plans for economic development. The
Federal Government has taken steps to coordinate Federal assistance in
support of the Zones, including expedited processing, priority funding,
and waiver of regulations. To that end, President Clinton has issued an
Executive Order that creates a Community Enterprise Board chaired by
Vice President Al Gore to ensure the success of the Empowerment Zone
initiative.
II. Eligibility
The statute specifies certain criteria that must apply in order for
an area to be eligible for Empowerment Zone designation, including
geographic size, population, poverty rate by census tract (or by block
numbering areas when the community is not delineated by census tracts),
pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress of the area. The
details of these requirements are described in the interim rule
governing the program published elsewhere in today's Federal Register.
This information must be provided in the application. USDA will
accept certifications of the data by the State and local governments,
subject to further verification of the data prior to designation as a
Zone.
III. Designation Factors
The statute specifies three factors to be considered by the
Secretary in designating Empowerment Zones: (1) The effectiveness of
the Strategic Plan; (2) the effectiveness of the assurances provided in
support of the Strategic Plan; and (3) other criteria to be specified
by the Secretary. Each of these factors is discussed in greater detail
in the interim rule (The Strategic Plan is described in the interim
rule at 7 CFR 25.200(c)).
IV. Timing and Location of Application Submissions
Applications may be obtained from any FmHA State Office and from
Rural EZ/EC State Contacts (see Appendix A) or by sending an Internet
Mail message to: info@ezec.usda.gov. An application may be submitted 30
days from the date of publication of the interim rule, which governs
the Empowerment Zone program. The deadline for receipt of the
application will be 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time, Thursday,
June 30, 1994. Applications received after that date and time will not
be accepted, and will be returned to the sender. As the applications
require certifications from the State and local governments, we cannot
accept applications sent by FAX or through the Internet system. The
original application and one (1) copy should be sent to: US Department
of Agriculture, Rural Development Administration, EZ/EC Team, room
5405, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-
3200.
Applicants will be notified of an incomplete application. Provided
that the application is received at the above address with sufficient
time before the deadline, applicant will be given an opportunity to
provide the missing information to USDA.
V. Notice of Intent to Apply
Applicants should fill out and mail a Notice of Intent to Apply.
The form of notice is located at the end of the Empowerment Zone
Application (see Appendix B), or may be obtained by sending an Internet
Mail message to: info@ezec.usda.gov to obtain the notice. Applicants
may wish to submit the form in order to be placed on the Empowerment
Zone and Enterprise Community mailing list. While the notice is not
mandatory for participation in the program, USDA encourages the
submission of the notice as it will permit the Department to provide
applicants with updated information on program requirements as well as
information on technical assistance.
VI. Miscellaneous
Empowerment Zone designation does not constitute a Federal action
for provisions of the Uniform Relocation Act. However, any activity
constituting a Federal action that may result from such a designation
may be subject to the provision of this Act, as well as any other
statutory or regulatory provisions governing the particular Federal
action.
VII. Other Matters
Paperwork Reduction Act
The information collection requirements contained in this Notice
have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). No person
may be subjected to a penalty for failure to comply with these
information collection requirements until they have been approved and
assigned an OMB control number. The OMB control number, when assigned,
will be announced by separate notice in the Federal Register.
Information on the estimated public reporting burden is provided in the
preamble of the interim rule implementing this program (7 CFR part 25)
published elsewhere in today's Federal Register.
Dated: January 12, 1994.
Bob J. Nash,
Under Secretary, Small Community and Rural Development.
Appendix A: EZ/EC State Contacts
Alabama
Richard Jones, FmHA State Office, 4121 Carmichael Road, Suite 601,
Montgomery AL 36106-3683, Ph: 205-279-3400, Fax: 205-279-3484
Alaska
Darwin Betts, FmHA State Office, 634 S. Bailey, Suite 103, Palmer AK
99645, Ph: 907-745-2176, Fax: 907-745-5398
Arkansas
Shirley Tucker, FmHA State Office, 700 W. Capitol St., P.O. Box
2778, Little Rock AR 72203, Ph: 501-324-6281, Fax: 501-324-6346
Arizona
Clark Dierks, FmHA State Office, 3003 N Central Ave, Suite 900,
Phoenix AZ 85012, Ph: 602-280-8700, Fax: 602-280-8770
California
Paula Galvan, FmHA State Office, 194 West Main Street, Suite F,
Woodland CA 95695-2915, Ph: 916-668-2000, Fax: 916-668-2055
Colorado
Judy Jacklich, 655 Parfet Street, Room E 100, Lakewood CO 80215, Ph:
303-236-2806, Fax: 303-236-2854
Delaware
James Waters, 4611 So Dupont Highway, PO Box 400, Camden DE 19934-
9998, Ph: 302-697-4324, Fax: 302-697-4388
Florida
Jeanie Graham, 4440 N.W. 25th Pl, Gainesville FL 32614-7010, Ph:
904-338-3400, Fax: 904-338-3405
Georgia
Eugene Carr, 355 E. Hancock Ave., Stephens Federal Bldg., Athens GA
30610, Ph: 706-546-2165, Fax: 706-546-2152
Hawaii
Ted Matsuo, 154 Waianuenue Ave, Federal Building Rm 311, Hilo HI
89701, Ph: 808-933-3009, Fax: 808-935-1590
Idaho
Larry Spindler, 3232 Elder St., Boise ID 83705, Ph: 208-334-1836,
Fax: 208-334-1712
Illinois
Charles Specht, 1817 S Neil Street, Suite 103, Champaign IL 61820,
Ph: 217-398-5235, Fax: 217-398-5337
Indiana
Joseph Steele, 5975 Lakeside Blvd., Indianapolis IN 46278, Ph: 317-
290-3109, Fax: 317-290-3127
Iowa
Dorman Otte, 210 Walnut Street, Federal Bldg Rm 873, Des Moines IA
50309, Ph: 515-284-4152, Fax: 515-284-4859
Kansas
William Kirk, 1200 SW Executive Dr, P.O. Box 4653, Topeka KS 66604,
Ph: 913-271-2708, Fax: 913-271-2700
Kentucky
Robert Letton, FmHA State Office, 771 Corporate Plaza, Suite 200,
Lexington KY 40503, Ph: 606-224-7336, Fax: 606-224-7340
Louisiana
Michael Taylor, RDA Delta Region, 1221 Washington Street, Vicksburg,
MS 39180, Ph: 601-631-3920, Fax: 601-631-3931
Maine
Daniel E. McAllister, Jr., FmHA State Office, 444 Stillwater Avenue,
Suite 2, P.O. Box 405, Bangor ME 04402-0405, Ph: 207-990-9125, Fax:
207-990-9170
Massachusetts
Craig L. Dore, FmHA State Office, 451 West Street, Amherst MA 01002,
Ph: 413-253-4340, Fax: 413-253-4347
Michigan
James Trumbell, FmHA State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200,
East Lansing MI 48823, Ph: 517-337-6635, Fax: 517-337-6913
Minnesota
Deborah Slipek, FmHA State Office, 410 Farm Credit Services Bldg,
375 Jackson Street, St. Paul MN 55101-1853, Ph: 612-290-3866, Fax:
612-290-3834
Mississippi
Jane Jones, FmHA State Office, Suite 831, Federal Bldg, 100 W
Capital St, Jackson MS 39269, Ph: 601-965-5460, Fax: 601-965-5384
Mississippi (2)
Bettye Oliver, RDA Delta Region, FmHA State Office, Suite 831,
Federal Building, 100 W Capital Street, Jackson MS 39269, Ph: 601-
965-4318, Fax: 601-965-5384
Missouri
Eldrid ``Pete'' Easterhaus, FmHA State Office, 601 Business Loop,
70W, Parkade Cr, Ste 235, Columbia MO 65203, Ph: 314-876-0995, Fax:
314-876-0977
Montana
Mitchel Copp, FmHA State Office, 900 Technology Blvd, Suite B, P.O.
Box 850, Bozeman MT 59771, Ph: 406-585-2520, Fax: 406-585-2565
Nebraska
Richard L. Bolte, FmHA State Office, Federal Building, Rm 308, 100
Centennial Mall N, Lincoln NE 68508, Ph: 402-437-5556, Fax: 402-437-
5408
New Jersey
Mike P. Kelsey, FmHA State Office, Tarnsfield Plaza, #22, Woodlane
Road, Mt. Holly NJ 08060, Ph: 609-265-3640, Fax: 609-265-3651
New Mexico
Bill Culberston, FmHA State Office, Plaza del Comercio, 1570 Pacheco
St B, Santa Fe NM 87501, Ph: 505-984-8084, Fax: 505-984-8078
New York
Lowell J. Gibson, FmHA State Office, James M. Hanley Fed. Bldg, Room
871, PO Box 7318, Syracuse NY 13261-7318, Ph: 315-423-5298, Fax:
315-423-5722
North Carolina
Debra Nesbitt, FmHA State Office, 4405 Bland Rd, Suite 260, Raleigh
NC 27609, Ph: 919-790-2731, Fax: 919-790-2738
North Dakota
DeLayne Brown, FmHA State Office, Federal Building, Room 221, 220
East Rosser, Bismarck ND 58502, Ph: 701-250-4781, Fax: 701-250-4670
Ohio
Allen L. Turnbull, FmHA State Office, Federal Building Rm 740, 200
North High Street, Columbus OH 43215, Ph: 614-469-5400, Fax: 614-
469-5802
Oklahoma
Christie Woolsey, FmHA State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater
OK 74074-2654, Ph: 405-624-4250, Fax: 405-624-4278
Oregon
Jerry W. Sheridan, FmHA State Office, Federal Bldg., Rm 1590, 1220
S.W. 3rd Ave., Portland OR 97204, Ph: 503-326-2735, Fax: 503-326-
5898
Pennsylvania
Duane Tuttle, FmHA State Office, 1 Credit Union Pl, Room 330,
Harrisburg PA 17110-2996, Ph: 717-782-4477, Fax: 717-782-4878
South Carolina
R. Gregg White, RDA Southeast Region, 280 Beaufort Street, NE, Aiken
SC 29801, Ph: 803-643-4214, Fax: 803-643-4245
South Dakota
Robert Bothwell, FmHA State Office, Federal Building, Rm 308, 200
Fourth Street, S.W., Huron SD 57350, Ph: 605-353-1474, Fax: 605-353-
1220
Tennessee
John M. Dement, FmHA State Office, Suite 300, 3322 West End Ave,
Nashville TN 37203-1071, Ph: 615-783-1341, Fax: 615-783-1301/1394
Texas
Lorraine Clements, FmHA Dist Office, P.O. Box 1115, Georgetown TX
78627, Ph: 512-863-6502, Fax: 512-869-0579
Utah
Duane A. Olson, FmHA State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Fed. Bldg, Rm
5438, 125 S State S, Salt Lake City UT 84138, Ph: 801-524-3244, Fax:
801-524-4406
Vermont
Burtt McIntire, FmHA State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main
Street, Montpelier VT 05602, Ph: 802-828-6030, Fax: 802-828-6037
Virginia
Robert Boyd, FmHA State Office, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Culpeper
Building #238, Richmond VA 23229, Ph: 804-287-1601, Fax: 804-287-
1721
Washington
Mary McBride, P.O. Box 2466, Olympia WA 98507, Ph: 206-534-9314, Fax
206-753-8082
Wisconsin
David Gibson, FmHA State Office, 4949 Kirschling Ct., Stevens Point
WI 54481, Ph: 715-341-0023, Fax: 715-345-7669
West Virginia
Jenny Phillips, FmHA State Office, 75 High Street, Morgantown WV
26505-7500, Ph: 304-291-4791, Fax: 304-291-4032
Wyoming
Edward E. Chase, FmHA State Office, P.O. Box 820, Casper WY 82602,
Ph: 307-261-5144, Fax: 307-261-5167
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
TN18JA94.009
[FR Doc. 94-1148 Filed 1-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-C